Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 30

AND it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day , that the Amalekites had invaded the south , and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag , and burnt it with fire:

To wit, after David's departure from Achish; for Ziklag was at a great distance from the Camp and place of Fight, as appears from 2 Sam. 1. 2. and David's men being all Foot-men, could make but slow Marches.

The remainders of that People who lived near those parts where David had destroyed their Brethren, chap. 27. 8, 9.

To wit, the Southern part of Iudah, and the adjacent parts: See below, v. 14.

i. e. Sacked and spoiled it.

2 And had taken the women captives that were therein: they slew not any , either great or small, but carried them away, and went on theIr way.

Which was strange, considering how David dealt with them, chap. 27. 9. But this must be ascribed partly to their selfish or fleshly Interest: for they might reserve them, either to make Sale of them for their Profit, or to abuse them for their Lust; or, it may be, to revenge themselves upon David and his men, by reserving them to extraordinary, and lingring, and repeated punishments; but principally, to Gods over-ruling and wonderful Providence, who set these bounds to their Rage; and though he designed to chastise David's sin and folly, yet would not deliver him nor his up to death.

4 Then David and the people that were with him, lift up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep .

Till either the humour was wholly spent, or the consideration of their Calamity had made them stupid.

6 And David was greatly distressed: for the people spake of stoning him , because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons, and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God .

As the Author of their miseries, by coming to Ziklag at first, by provoking the Amalekites to this cruelty, by his forwardness in Marching away with Achish, and leaving their Wives and Children unguarded.

i. e. In this that the All-wise, and All-powerful Lord, was his God by Covenant-relation, and special Promise, and true and Fatherly affection, as he had shewed himself to be in the whole course of his Providence towards him.

Marginal references: Heb. bitter.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelechs son, I pray thee bring me hither the ephod : and Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

And put it upon thy self, that thou maist enquire of God according to his Ordinance, Numb. 27. 21. See above, chap. 23. 9. David was sensible of his former Error in neglecting to ask counsel of God by the Ephod, when he came to Achish, and when he went out with Achish to the Battel; and his necessity now brings him to his Duty, and his Duty meets with Success.

8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue, for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all .

Before, God answered more slowly and gradually, chap. 23. 11, 12. but now he answers speedily, and fully at once, because the business here required more haste. So Gracious is our God, that he considers even the degree of our necessities, and accommodates himself to them.

10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men : (for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint, that they could not go over the brook Besor o).

A small number for such an attempt: but David was strong in Faith, giving God the glory of his Power and Faithfulness.

11 ¶ And they found an Egyptian in the field , and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat, and they made him drink water .

Whom by his Habit they guessed to be a Soldier that had been engaged in that expedition.

Partly, out of humanity and compassion to a perishing creature: and partly, in prudence, that by him they might learn the true state of their Enemies.

12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drank any water, three days, and three nights .

Which is to be understood Synecdochically of one whole day and part of two others, as the same Phrase is taken Matth. 12. 40. as appears from the next Verse, where he saith three days agone I fell sick, but in the Hebrew it is, this is the third day since I fell sick.

Marginal references: See Jud[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ 15. 19.; Chap. 14. [illegible: 1+ letters] ▪

13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt , servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me , because three days agone I fell sick.

God by his Providence so ordering it, that he was not one of that Cursed Race of the Amalekites, who were to be utterly destroyed, but an Egyptian, who might be spared.

In this place and condition: which was barbarous inhumanity: for he ought, and easily might have carried him away with the Prey which they had taken. But he paid dear for this cruelty, for this was the occasion of the ruin of him and of all their company▪ And God by his secret Providence ordered the matter thus for that very end. So that there is no Fighting against God, who can make the smallest accidents serviceable to the production of the greatest effects.

14 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites , and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb , and we burnt Ziklag with fire.

i. e. The Philistines, as is manifest from v. 16. who are so called Zeph. 2. 5.

This is added by way of rejection: q. d. that part of the South of Iudah which belongs to Caleb's Posterity, Ios. 14. 13.

15 And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company .

For his Master had told him whither they intended to go, that he might come after them, as soon as he could.

16 ¶ And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth , eating, and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

Secure and careless, because they were now come almost to the Borders of their own Countrey, and the Philistines and Israelites both were otherwise engaged, and David, as they believed with them. So they had no visible cause of danger; and yet then they were nearest so their destruction.

17 And David smote them from the tw[illegible: 1+ letters]light , even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men which rode upon camels, and fled.

The word signifies both the Morning and Evening twilight. But the latter seems here intended, partly because their Eating, and Drinking, and Dancing, was more customary and proper work for the Evening, than for the Morning; and partly, because the Evening was more convenient for David, that the fewness of his Forces might not be discovered by the Day-light. Object. It is not likely that David would fall upon the Amalekites before his Men, who had been tired with a long and hasty March, were refreshed. Answ. Nor is it said that he did. It is probable, that when he came near them, he reposed himself, and his Army, in some secret place, whereof there were ma[illegible: 1+ letters]y in those parts, for a convenient Season; and then Marched on so as to come to them at the Evening time.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].

20 And David took all the flocks, and the herds : which they drave before those other cattel , and said. This is Davids spoil .

To wit, which the Amalekites had taken from the Philistines or others.

Before those who belonged to Ziklag.

i. e. The Soldiers, who lately were so incensed against David, that they spake of Stoning him: now upon this success Magnifie him, and Triumphantly celebrate his Praise; and say concerning this spoil, David purchased [illegible: 1 word] by his Valour and Conduct, and he may dispose of it as he pleaseth.

21 ¶ And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him ; and when David came near to the people, he saluted them .

To congratulate the Victory; which, it is probable, David had sent a Messenger to acquaint them with.

He spake kindly to them, and did not blame them because they went no further with them.

Marginal references: Or, asked [illegible: 1+ letters]hem how they did.

22 Then answered all the wicked men, and men of Belial of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us , we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife, and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

When those 200 men required, or expected a part of the Spoil; and they gathered from David's words and carriage, that he intended to give it to them.

So he calls them for their covetousness, and injustice, and churlishness to their brethren. By which Expressions we may judge, how hainous and odious those Sins are in Gods sight.

Which was from their impotency; not by choice, or design. Herein therefore was their iniquity and unreasonableness, they would punish them for no fault.

Marginal references: Heb. men.

23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren , with that which the LORD hath given us , who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us, into our hand.

He useth his Power and Authority to over-rule them; but manageth it with all sweetness, calling them Brethren; not onely as of the same Nation and Religion with him, but as his fellow-Soldiers.

What he hath freely imparted to us, we should not unkindly and injuriously with-hold from our Brethren.

24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter ? but as his part is that goeth down to the battel, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike .

What wise or just man will be of your opinion in this matter?

A prudent and equitable Constitution, and therefore practised by the Romans, as Polybius and others note. The Reason of it is manifest; because they were exposed to hazards, as well as their Brethren: and were a Reserve to whom they might retreat in case of a Defeat; and they were now in actual Service, and in the station in which their General had placed them.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1+ letters]ee Num. 31.

26 ¶ And when David came to Zi[illegible: 1+ letters]lag▪ he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah , even to his friends (saying, Behold, a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD )

Partly in gratitude for their former favour to him: and partly, in Policy, to engage their Affections to him now, when he apprehended Saul's Death near.

He intimates, that though he was fled to the Philistines, yet he imployed not his Forces against the Israelites, as, no doubt, Saul's Courtiers and Soldiers reported that he designed; but onely against Gods Enemies.

Marginal references: Heb. blessing

27 To them which were in Beth[illegible: 1+ letters]el , and to them which were in south-Ramoth , and to them which were in Jatter ,

In Kiriath-jearim, where the Ark was, 1 Sam. 10. 3.

A City in the Tribe of Simeon, Jos. 19. 8. so called by way of distinction, from Ramoth in Gilead, which was more Northward, 1 King. 22. 12.

Of which, see Ios. 15. 48.

Marginal references: Iesh. 19. 8.

28 And to them which were in Aroer , and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,

Not that beyond Iordan, Numb. 32. 34. as many think; which was too remote from David: but another Place of that Name in Iudah, where the rest of the Places here named were: This being one of those places where David and his men were wont to haunt, as is expressed v. 31.

31 And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself, and his men were wont to haunt .

Or, to go. Whither they used to resort in the time of Saul's Persecution, either to hide themselves in some of their Territories; or, to get Provision from thence.