1 Samuel 30:9

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

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

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 30:9

Besor - Thought to be the stream of the Wady Sheriah which enters the sea a little south of Gaza. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 30:9-10

1 Samuel 30:9-10. Where those that were left behind stayed Those that were left to look after the stuff, 1 Samuel 30:24; who were so tired, that they were not able to march any further. David pursued, he and four hundred men A small number for such an attempt; but David was strong in faith, giving God the glory of his power and faithfulness. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 30:1-31

David’s victory and Saul’s defeat (30:1-31:13)When David’s men returned to Ziklag, they found it a deserted, burnt out ruin. The Amalekites had raided the cities of Philistia and Judah while all the fighting men were away at war. The shock of losing everything - wives, families and possessions - drove David to total dependence on God. It was the kind of dependence that seems to have been lacking during his sixteen months in Philistia (30:1-8).Assisted by some capable Israelite military... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 30:9

men . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 30:9

DAVID AND HIS MEN WENT AFTER THE MARAUDERS"So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. But David went on with the pursuit, he and four hundred men; two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.""But David went on" (1 Samuel 30:10). These are the big words in the passage. Every argument imaginable might have been urged against David's continuation of the pursuit. His men were... read more

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