1 Samuel 30:9-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:7-20

Solomon observes that the righteous is delivered out of trouble and the wicked cometh in his stead, that the just falleth seven times a-day and riseth again; so it was with David. Many were his troubles, but the Lord delivered him out of them all, and particularly out of this of which we have here an account. I. He enquired of the Lord both concerning his duty?Shall I pursue after this troop? and concerning the event?Shall I overtake them? 1 Sam. 30:8. It was a great advantage to David that he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:9

So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him ,.... Encouraged by the oracle of the Lord: and came to the brook Besor ; which Adrichomius F17 Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 133. places in the tribe of Simeon; it is thought to be near Gaza. Aristaeus F18 Hist. 72. Interpret. p. 41. speaks of brooks that flowed by Gaza and Ashdod, places that belonged to the Philistines; some take it to be the river of the wilderness in Amos; see Gill on Amos 6:14 , where those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:10

But David pursued, he and four hundred men ,.... Not discouraged with being obliged to leave a third part of his little army behind; though it was doubtless a trial of his faith, with these to pursue an enemy, whose numbers he knew not, which must greatly exceed his; for after the rout and slaughter of them, as many escaped on camels as David had with him, 1 Samuel 30:17 , for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint ; through their grief and sorrow for the loss of their wives and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:11

And they found an Egyptian in the field ,.... As they passed along, lying there, having been sick, and was half starved, almost dead: and brought him to David ; to know what was to be done with him; being in the habit of a soldier, they concluded he might be one of the company they were in pursuit of; but whether they should kill him, or make use of him for intelligence and as a guide, could they bring him to himself, they knew not, and therefore brought him to David: and gave him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:12

And they gave him a piece of cake of figs ,.... That were dried and pressed together, and made into cakes: and two clusters of raisins ; or dried grapes, as the Targum: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him ; he seemed to be quite dispirited, almost lifeless, but upon eating some food he was refreshed, and his spirits revived, and he was capable of conversing: for he had eaten no bread, nor drank any water, three days and three nights ; that is, one whole day, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 30:9

The brook Besor - This had its source in the mountain of Idumea, and fell into the Mediterranean Sea beyond Gaza. Some suppose it to have been the same with the river of the wilderness, or the river of Egypt. The sense of this and the following verse is, that when they came to the brook Besor, there were found two hundred out of his six hundred men so spent with fatigue that they could proceed no farther. The baggage or stuff was left there, 1 Samuel 30:24 , and they were appointed to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 30:12

A cake of figs - See on 1 Samuel 25:18 ; (note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:1-10

The spiritual uses of calamity. The facts are— 1 . David, on returning to Ziklag with his men, discovers that the Amalekites had smitten it and carried off the families as captives. 2 . In their deep distress David and his men weep bitterly. 3 . On a mutiny arising among his men, threatening his life, David betakes himself to God for comfort and guidance. 4 . Inquiring of God through the high priest, he receives assurance of success in pursuing the Amalekites, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:9-10

Having obtained this favourable answer, David starts in pursuit with his old band of 600 men. So rapid was his march that one third of these dropped out of the ranks, so that the newcomers from Manasseh would have been useless, nor had they lost wives or children. The brook (or rather "torrent") Besor practically remains unidentified, as the site of Ziklag is unknown; but possibly it is the Wady-es-Sheriah, which runs into the sea a little to the south of Gaza. As there was water here, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:11-12

An Egyptian, the slave, as we read in 1 Samuel 30:13 , of some Amalekite, left in the field, in the open common, to perish. He had become faint and could not travel as fast as they did, and so was left behind with no supplies of food, for he had eaten nothing for three days and three nights . The Amalekites had thus a start of at least this time, or even more, as this slave would probably have carried some food away with him from Ziklag. read more

Group of Brands