1 Samuel 30:25

30:21-31 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.

And it was so from that day forward,.... Or "upwards" (x), of old, formerly; and so may refer either to what was done at the war with Midian, Numbers 31:27 ; or in the times of Abraham, Genesis 14:23 ; and so Jarchi observes, it is not said, "henceforward", but "upwards", it being a statute and custom in the days of Abraham; the same he notes on Genesis 14:24 ; where he, David, learnt this from thence; though Josephus (y) is express for it, that this law obtained from the time of David; and such was his authority, though as yet not king, but a wise and just commander: that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day; it appeared so reasonable and equitable, that it was always regarded and attended to. (x) "et supra", Pagninus, Montanus; "et jam olim", Tigurine version. (y) Antiqu. l. 6. c, 14. sect. 6.

Verse 25. - That he made it . I.e. David. Having been thus enacted by him and practised during his life, no king henceforward would venture to change it. In the war with the Midianites Moses had ordered that half the spoil should belong to the combatants and half to the congregation who remained in the camp ( Numbers 31:27 ). This enactment of David was in the same spirit. DAVID PROPITIATES HIS FRIENDS BY SHARING WITH THEM HIS BOOTY (vers. 26-31). 1 Samuel 30:25

Verse 26. - The elders of Judah. The spoil taken from the Amalekites and assigned to David must have been very large, as it was worth distributing so widely. He did not, however, send to all the elders of Judah, but to such only as were his friends. A present. Hebrew, "a blessing" (see on 1 Samuel 25:27). 1 Samuel 30:26

The meaning is, "and David took all the sheep and oxen which the Amalekites drove" (i. e. had in their possession) "before that acquisition of cattle" (namely, before what they took in their raid to the south), "and they" (the people) "said, This is David's spoil." This was his share as captain of the band (compare Judges 8:24-26 ). All the other plunder of the camp - arms, ornaments, jewels, money, clothes, camels, accoutrements, and so on - was divided among the little army. David's motive in choosing the sheep and oxen for himself was to make presents to his friends in Judah 1 Samuel 30:26-31 .

(25) A statute and an ordinance for Israel. —The decree that they, who for good reasons tarry with the stuff, shall share alike with those who go down to the battle, which became a received ordinance in Israel, is not without its meaning. In the Heavenly Church of God “ His state Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, And post o’er land and ocean without rest: They also serve who only stand and wait.” MILTON: Sonnet 19 Moses praying on the hill contributed to the victory over Amalek even more than Joshua fighting in the plain (Exodus 17:11). “All Christians are not of equal strength, and some follow Christ to the conflict, others tarry with the stuff. Some fight the Lord’s battles in the din of active life; others, aged men and women, the Simeons and Annas of the Church . . . weak in body but strong in faith, fight with the peaceful arms of prayers and tears; Christ is omnipotent and merciful He rewards those who tarry in patience with the stuff, as well as those who go forth in the march to fight valiantly in the battle.”—Bishop Hall, in Wordsworth.

21. David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow—This unexpected accession of spoil was nearly proving an occasion of quarrel through the selfish cupidity of some of his followers, and serious consequences might have ensued had they not been prevented by the prudence of the leader, who enacted it as a standing ordinance—the equitable rule—that all the soldiers should share alike (see Nu 31:11; see on [254]Nu 31:25).

66 The Advocatejbip David, 1 Sam. 12. la, 1 1, 14/ and as the Corin* tbians had, that*s the Queftion. True, thou fhalc be compleatly fav'd at laft,but yet whether 'ds nou beft to leave thee a Memento of God's Difpleafore at thy Sin, by awarding, that theSm>rdJhall ne^er* deftirffrom thy Hdtfe^ or that fomc fore Sickneis or ot]^cr Diftrefles (hall haunt thee as long as thoi^' * liveft, or perhapsthat thou fhalt walk mthout tbe^ light of God's Countenanee for fever al Tears and 4^ Day. Now, if anyof thefe three things happen to^ thee, thou muft exercife Patience, and wait j thuf" did David, I waited fatientls' ; and again he exer-j cifcs his Soul in this Virtue, faying, My Soul^wait^ thou only upon him, for my Expe^ation is from him^, Pfal. 62. 5. For novo we are judj^ed of the Lord^thaf-. we may not be condemy^d with the Wwld : And by this Judgment, tho' it fets us free from their dam- 1 nation, yetwc arc involved in many troubles, atul j Eerhaps muft wait many a Day before we cafrj now that (as to the main) the Verdid hath gone^^ on our fide. Thus therefore, in order to thy wai*. ting on him without fainting, it is meet that thott Ihouldft know the Methods of him that managei thy Caufe for thee in Heaven ; and fuffer not Diftruft to break in and bear fway in thy Soul, fe he will at length bring thee forth to thelioht, ani thou /halt behold his !{ighteou/hefs. She alfo that it thine EnetTiy fhaS fee it, and Shame p^nli cover her that faid unto thee, P^ere is thy God ?

hat God*s People may, by their new and repeai Sirts, as to Reafon at leaft, endanger their fereft in the eternal Inheritance, is manifeft by ch Groanings of theirs as thefc, I4^h dojl tUu ft me off\ Pfal.43. 2. £^ 5 1. II. Qafl me mt vay from thy p efmce^ Pfal. 60. i . And^ O God^ hybiji thou cdft us off for ever ? Pfal. 74. i. Yec ind in the Book of Leviticus, that tho' atTj of be Children of Ifrael ftioujd hzvefold.morigag'd "Rm^ide awny withihciv Inherirance,they did not iereby utterly make void their Tide 10 an Inereft therein, but it Iliould again return to *cm, ind they again enjoy the poffeifion of it \\\ the fear of Jubilee. In the Tear of Jubilee, faiihCod, mfhall yetum every man to his PoJf.ffJjn ; thi . Und /hall not be fold for ever, nor be quite cut off, 4r the Land is mine, for ye are fir angers and /ommers with me. In all the Land of your Poffaffi^n foufh all grant a Redemption for the Land,Lcv,l^, The Man in Ifrael that, by waxing poor, did !ell his Land in Canaan, was furely a type of the !!hriftian who, by Sin and Decays in Grace, has 'orfeitcd his Place and Inheritance in Heaven ; )ut as the Ceremonial >Law provided that the )Oorman in Canaan ftiould not by his Poverty lofe lis Portion in C4tf4 for ever, but that it fhould eturn to him in the Year of Jubilee j fo the Law /Gr4Cff has provided that the Children (Viall not or their Sin lofe their Inheritance in Heaven for :ver, but it Hiall return to iheni in t'other l4^orld^ 1 Cor, 11,32