1 Samuel 30:21-25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:21-31

We have here an account of the distribution of the spoil which as taken from the Amalekites. When the Amalekites had carried away a rich booty from the land of Judah and the Philistines they spent it in sensuality, in eating, and drinking, and making merry with it; but David disposed of the spoil taken after another manner, as one that knew that justice and charity must govern us in the use we make of whatever we have in this world. What God gives us he designs we should do good with, not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:21

And David came to the two hundred men ,.... Left at the brook Besor: who were so faint that they could not follow David ; or, as the Targum, were restrained from going over after him; either through faintness of spirits, and weakness of body, or through the order of David that they should not follow him; and which seems to receive some countenance from what follows: whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor ; to guard the passage there, and to tarry by and keep the stuff: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:22

Then answered all the wicked men, and men of Belial, of those that went with David ,.... Who were ill natured men, and of covetous dispositions, as what is called their answer shows; and it seems by that as if the two hundred men had moved that they might have their share in the spoil, or that David had given some intimation that they should: and said, because they went not with us, we will not give, them ought of the spoil that we have recovered : which was very unreasonable not to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:23

Then said David, ye shall not do so, my brethren ,.... Though he saw through their wickedness, and disapproved of the bad sentiments they had embraced, yet he deals gently with them, calling them brethren, being of the same nation and religion, and his fellow soldiers; yet at the same time keeps up and maintains his dignity and authority as a general, and declares it should not be as they willed, and gives his reasons for it, that it was not fit they should do as they pleased: with that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:24

For who will hearken unto you in fit is matter? ,.... No wise and just man will take on your side of the question, and join with you in excluding your brethren from a share in the spoil: but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff ; as these two hundred men did; they were placed to abide by and watch the carriages, the bag and baggage the rest had left there, that they might be the lighter, and make their pursuit more swiftly:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:25

And it was so from that day forward ,.... Or "upwards" F24 ומעלה "et supra", Pagninus, Montanus; "et jam olim", Tigurine version. , of old, formerly; and so may refer either to what was done at the war with Midian, Numbers 31:27 ; or in the times of Abraham, Genesis 14:23 ; and so Jarchi observes, it is not said, "henceforward", but "upwards", it being a statute and custom in the days of Abraham; the same he notes on Genesis 14:24 ; where he, David, learnt this from thence;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 30:22

Men of Belial - This is a common expression to denote the sour, the rugged, the severe, the idle, and the profane. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 30:23

That which the Lord hath given us - He very properly attributes this victory to God; the numbers of the Amalekites being so much greater than his own. Indeed, as many fled away on camels as were in the whole host of David. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 30:25

He made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel - Nothing could be more just and proper than this law: he who stays at home to defend house and property, has an equal right to the booty taken by those who go out to the war. There was a practice of this kind among the Israelites long before this time; see Numbers 31:27 ; Joshua 22:8 ; and the note on this latter verse. Unto this day - This is another indication that this book was composed long after the facts it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:21-22

On returning David finds the 200 stragglers, whom they had made to abide at the brook Besor. Rather, "whom he had, made to abide," as it was David's office to give such a command. The singular is supported by all the versions except the Chaldee, and by some MSS . David had made such men as were growing weary halt at the torrent, because it was a fit place where to collect the stragglers, and also, perhaps, because it would have required time and labour to get the baggage across. All the... read more

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