1 Samuel 30 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

When David was dismissed from the army of the Philistines he did not go over to the camp of Israel, but, being expelled by Saul, observed an exact neutrality, and silently retired to his own city Ziklag, leaving the armies ready to engage. Now here we are told, I. What a melancholy posture he found the city in, all laid waste by the Amalekites, and what distress it occasioned him and his men, ver. 1-6. II. What course he took to recover what he had lost. He enquired of God, and took out a commission from him (ver. 7, 8), pursued the enemy (ver. 9, 10), gained intelligence from a straggler (ver. 11-15), attacked and routed the plunderers (ver. 16, 17), and recovered all that they had carried off, ver. 18-20. III. What method he observed in the distribution of the spoil, ver. 21-31.

Ziklag Burnt. (b. c. 1055.)

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1 Samuel 30 — Overview1 Samuel 30 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledge1 Samuel 30:1, The Amalekites spoil Ziklag; 1 Samuel 30:4, David asking counsel, is encouraged by God to pursue them; 1 Samuel 30:11, By the means of a revived Egyptian he is brought to the enemies, and recovers all the…1 Samuel 30 — Overview1 Samuel 30 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter relates the condition Ziklag was in when David and his men came to it, the city burnt, and their families carried captive by the Amalekites, which occasioned not only a general lamentation, but mutiny and…1 Samuel 30:1-61 Samuel 30:1-6 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHere we have, I. The descent which the Amalekites made upon Ziklag in David's absence, and the desolations they made there. They surprised the city when it was left unguarded, plundered it, burnt it, and…1 Samuel 30:11 Samuel 30:1 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgewere come: 1 Samuel 29:11; 2 Samuel 1:2 on the third: This was the third day after he had left the Philistine army at Aphek, from which place, Calmet supposes, Ziklag was distant more than thirty leagues. the…1 Samuel 30:21 Samuel 30:2 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgeslew not: 1 Samuel 30:19, 1 Samuel 27:11; Job 38:11; Psalms 76:10; Isaiah 27:8-9 1 Samuel 30:21 Samuel 30:2 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd had taken the women captives, that [were] therein,.... There being no other to take, the men were gone with David:they slew not any, either great or small; that is, of the women, whether married or unmarried, old,…

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