1Sa 30 | TNotes | STEP | 30:1 Ziklag: See study note on 27:6. • Perhaps the Amalekites were retaliating for David’s raids against them (27:8 ).

30:1 ^a Ziklag: See study note on 27:6.

• Perhaps the Amalekites were retaliating for David’s raids against them (27:8 ^b).
30:2 ^c There were no fighting men left in Ziklag to protect the women and children. The Amalekites had a reputation for preying on the weak and vulnerable (see Deut 25:17-18 ^d).

• without killing anyone: The Amalekites were not being compassionate; women and children were more useful alive than dead.
30:5 ^e Ahinoam: See study note on 25:43.

• Abigail: See 25:3-42 ^f.
30:6 ^g in great danger: Saul had used the same expression about himself: When “in deep trouble” (28:15 ^h), Saul turned to necromancy, with disastrous results. David, by contrast, found strength and success in the Lord his God.
30:7 ⁱ the ephod: See study notes on 2:18; 23:6.
30:8 ^j Unlike Saul (28:6 ^k), David inquired of the Lord successfully (see 23:9-12 ^l; 2 Sam 2:1 ^m; 5:19 ⁿ, 23 ^o).
30:9 ^p Besor was a large brook in Philistine territory that emptied into the Mediterranean southwest of Gaza.
30:10 ^q too exhausted: David’s men had traveled for three days (30:1 ^r) and were now in hot pursuit of the Amalekites without having rested. David did not upbraid them or drive them on mercilessly. See 30:23-25 ^s.
Summary for 1Sam 30:11-12: 30:11-12 ^t David had once received bread when he was famished (21:3-7 ^u). He and his men helped this Egyptian man before they even knew his identity or his ability to help their cause.
30:13 ^v because I was sick: Only healthy and vigorous slaves were valuable to the Amalekites; the rest were expendable.
30:14 ^w The land of Caleb was in the wilderness of Judah, south of Hebron (see Josh 14:6-15 ^x).
30:17 ^y The total number of Amalekite raiders must have been quite large if 400 young men escaped.
Summary for 1Sam 30:21-31: 30:21-31 ^z David generously divided the spoils among those who participated in the battle and those who were too exhausted to take part. 30:21 ^aa greeted them joyfully: David did not reprimand them for not participating in the battle.
30:22 ^ab tell them to be gone: This heartless group wanted to drive away the nonparticipants with no reward.
30:23 ^ac what the Lord has given: Some of David’s men ascribed success to their own military prowess; David attributed victory to God and gave him the glory.
30:24 ^ad share and share alike: Cp. Num 31:25-47 ^ae, where Moses divided the plunder of war between those who fought and the rest of the people.
30:26 ^af elders of Judah ... his friends: David extended his generosity to influential people throughout his own tribal area, possibly to secure their support for him as king.
Summary for 1Sam 30:27-30: 30:27-30 ^ag The places mentioned here were all in southern Judah. David eventually emerged from this territory as king (see 2 Sam 2:1-4 ^ah).
30:31 ^ai From Hebron, David reigned as king over Judah for 7½ years (2 Sam 2:1-7 ^aj; 5:5 ^ak).