1 Samuel 30:26

_AND WHEN DAVID CAME TO ZIKLAG, HE SENT OF THE SPOIL UNTO THE ELDERS OF JUDAH, EVEN TO HIS FRIENDS, SAYING, BEHOLD A PRESENT FOR YOU OF THE SPOIL OF THE ENEMIES OF THE LORD;_ When David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah - i:e., as appears from the following list of the places, in the south and east of Judah. This was intended as an acknowledgment to the leading men in those towns and villages of Judah which had ministered to his necessities in the course of his various wanderings. It was the dictate of an amiable and grateful heart; and the effect of this well-timed liberality was to bring a large accession of numbers to his camp (1 Chronicles 12:22). The enumeration of these places shows what a numerous and influential party of adherents to his cause he could count within his own tribe....

21-31 What God gives us, he designs we should do good with. In distributing the spoil, David was just and kind. Those are men of Belial indeed, who delight in putting hardships upon their brethren, and care not who is starved, so that they may be fed to the full. David was generous and kind to all his friends. Those who consider the Lord as the Giver of their abundance, will dispose of it with fairness and liberality....

Verse 1 Samuel 30:26. _UNTO THE ELDERS OF JUDAH_] These were the persons among whom he sojourned during his exile, and who had given him shelter and protection. Gratitude required these presents....

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 WHEN DAVID CAME TO ZIKLAG,.... Perhaps with an intention to rebuild it, and make it still the place of his residence; and it is possible there might be some houses that escaped flames, and if not, tents might be pitched until the city was rebuilt, and it appears that he continued there some time: HE SENT OF THE SPOIL TO THE ELDERS OF JUDAH: of that part of it which belonged to himself as a general: [EVEN] TO HIS FRIENDS; such as had been kind to him when he sojourned among them; so that this was a piece of gratitude, as well as of policy in him, to make his way to the throne the easier, he perceiving the time drawing on for the expiration of the kingdom in the family of Saul; and besides, some in those parts he sent of the spoil to might have been sufferers by the Amalekites, so that it was but a point of justice to restore to them what had been taken from them; for they had invade...

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

PRESENT. All these places south of Hebron were protected by David, and these presents were. return for their support....

The presents sent to the elders of Judah 26. _he sent of the spoil_, &c. In gratitude for the assistance he had received from them during his wanderings, and to secure their good will when Saul's death should open the way for him to the throne. On the _elders_see at 1 Samuel 8:4. _a present_ Lit. A BLESSING, as in 1 Samuel 25:27. _the spoil of the enemies of the Lord_ Since Israel was Jehovah's people, the enemies of Israel were the enemies of His kingdom and His cause, and every war against them was a holy war. Cp. 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 25:28....

_David's Goodwill Toward Judah._ 1 Samuel 30:21-31 21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that _were_ with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them. 22 Then answered all the wicked men and _men_ of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them _aught_ of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead _them_ away, and depart, 23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. 24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but