1 Samuel 30:15

_AND DAVID SAID TO HIM, CANST THOU BRING ME DOWN TO THIS COMPANY? AND HE SAID, SWEAR UNTO ME BY GOD, THAT THOU WILT NEITHER KILL ME, NOR DELIVER ME INTO THE HANDS OF MY MASTER, AND I WILL BRING THEE DOWN TO THIS COMPANY._ David said ... Canst thou bring me down to this company? The Hebrews were led, from the physical conformation of Palestine, to regard the north as higher, and the south us lower. Thus David was brought down to the country of the Amalekites which lay south from Israel. SWEAR UNTO ME BY GOD. Whether there was still among these idolatrous tribes a lingering belief in one God, or this Egyptian wished to bind David by the God whom the Hebrews worshipped, the solemn sanction of an oath was mutually recognized....

7-15 If in all our ways, even when, as in this case, there can be no doubt they are just, we acknowledge God, we may expect that he will direct our steps, as he did those of David. David, in tenderness to his men, would by no means urge them beyond their strength. The Son of David thus considers the frames of his followers, who are not all alike strong and vigorous in their spiritual pursuits and conflicts; but, where we are weak, there he is kind; nay more, there he is strong, 2 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Corinthians 12:10. A poor Egyptian lad, scarcely alive, is made the means of a great deal of good to David. Justly did Providence make this poor servant, who was basely used by his master, an instrument in the destruction of the Amalekites; for God hears the cry of the oppressed. Those are unw...

Verse 1 Samuel 30:15. _SWEAR UNTO ME_] At the conclusion of this verse, the _Vulgate, Syriac_, and _Arabic_ add, that _David swore to him_. This is not expressed in the _Hebrew_, but is necessarily implied....

DAVID RESCUES HIS WIVES FROM THE AMALEKITES (1 Samuel 30:1). EXPOSITION DAVID UPON HIS RETURN FINDS ZIKLAG BURNT BY THE AMALEKITES (1 Samuel 30:1). 1 SAMUEL 30:1 ON THE THIRD DAY. David evidently could not have gone with the Philistines As far as to Shunem; for, as noticed in the previous chapter, it would have been impossible to march back to Ziklag in so short a time

AND DAVID SAID UNTO HIM, CANST THOU ME DOWN TO THIS COMPANY?.... That is, show him, or direct him where they were: AND HE SAID, SWEAR UNTO ME BY GOD; the Targum is, by the Word of the Lord; but it is highly probable this man had no notion of Jehovah, and his Word, or of the true God; only that there was a God, and that an oath taken by him was solemn, sacred, and inviolable, and might be trusted to and depended on: THAT THOU WILT NEITHER KILL ME; for he found now he was in the hands of those whose city he had been concerned in plundering and burning, and so might fear his life was in danger: NOR DELIVER ME INTO THE HANDS OF MY MASTER; who had been a cruel one to him, and therefore would gladly be clear of him; and if he had nothing else against him, his late usage of him was sufficient to raise his resentment of him: AND I WILL BRING THEE DOWN TO THIS COMPANY; or show him where they...

CHAPTER 30 _ 1. The Amalekites destroy Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1)_ 2. David's distress and return unto the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6) 3. David pursues the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:9) 4. The young Egyptian and the defeat of the enemy (1 Samuel 30:11) 5. The threatening dissension and David's decision (1 Samuel 30:21) 6. The spoil sent to Judah (1 Samuel 30:26) The chastening hand of the Lord now rests heav

1 SAMUEL 30. AMALEKITE RAID ON ZIKLAG._ Cf._ above. 1 SAMUEL 30:1. On reaching Ziklag, David found that the Amalekites had sacked the town and carried off the families and property of himself and his followers. Apparently he had taken his whole force to Achish, leaving Ziklag without any adequate garrison. 1 SAMUEL 30:7. Encouraged by an oracle from Yahweh, David went in pursuit, probably southwards, overtook the raiders, annihilated them all but 400, and recovered the captives and the spoil. 1 SAMUEL 30:14. CHERETHITES: a tribe in the South or Negeb (_cf._ 1 Samuel 27:10), pr

COMPANY. troop, as 1 Samuel 30:8....

The pursuit 7. _bring me hither the ephod_ He desired to consult God by means of the Urim and Thummim, as before at Keilah (1 Samuel 23:9)....

I WILL BRING THEE DOWN TO THIS COMPANY— Houbigant adds after these words, _and David sware to him;_ following the Syriac and Arabic. The words might certainly be understood, if they are not expressed....