‏ 1 Samuel 30:1-2

Ziklag Burnt

This section tells about a sad and difficult time for David and his men. While David was away, the Amalekites attacked his city, Ziklag. They burned it, took all the women and children, and stole everything. This happened because David had made enemies by attacking the Amalekites before (1 Samuel 27:8 a). It also teaches us that when we make trouble for others, we should expect that trouble could come back to us. Another lesson is that when we are busy with our own plans and do not take care of our responsibilities, bad things can happen. Still, we see God's mercy because the Amalekites did not kill the people—they only took them captive. God was in control, even in this hard time. He allowed this to correct David, not to destroy him.

v. 1-2: While David and his men were away, the Amalekites attacked Ziklag. They burned the city and took all the women and children as prisoners (1 Samuel 30:1-2 b). The Amalekites did this to get revenge for what David had done to them before. If Saul had destroyed the Amalekites as God commanded, this might not have happened. God’s hand can even limit the cruelty of enemies—He did not let the Amalekites kill the captives, even though David had killed many of them (1 Samuel 27:9 c). God sometimes uses trouble to teach and correct His people, not to destroy them.

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