1 Samuel 30:31

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 to them which were in Hebron,.... A noted city in the tribe of Judah, in the mountainous part of it, and a city of refuge, and where David was afterwards anointed, first king over Judah, and then over Israel, 2 Samuel 2:4 , and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt; where they had their walks, and went to and fro when persecuted by Saul; all such places, and the inhabitants of them, David had a grateful remembrance of, who sheltered and relieved him in the times of his distress.

Verse 31. - Hebron , destined soon to become David's capital ( 2 Samuel 2:1 ), lay about fourteen miles south of Jerusalem. For an account of it see Conder, 'Tent Work,' 2:79, sqq. In comparing the list of David's heroes ( 1 Chronicles 11:26-47 ) with this catalogue of friendly towns, it will be found that several of them came from them, and had probably shared his exile at Ziklag. Such were Ira and Gareb, Ithrites from Jattir, Shama and Jehiel from Aroer; perhaps also Zabdi the Shiphmite ( 1 Chronicles 27:27 ) came from Siphmoth. We find David in this narrative acting justly as a soldier, generously to those who had been kind to him in his wanderings, and forming friendships which he retained and cherished long afterwards, when from being a fugitive he had become a king. 1 Samuel 30:31

31 . Hebron ] One of the most ancient cities in the world ( Numbers 13:22 ). When Abraham entered Canaan it was already existing under the name of Kirjath Arba . In its neighbourhood he often sojourned, and there he bought the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite for a family sepulchre for himself and his posterity ( Genesis 23:2 ff.). On the conquest of Canaan it became the inheritance of Caleb ( Joshua 14:13-15 ), and was made a priestly settlement and a city of refuge ( Joshua 21:11-13 ). It was soon to attain greater importance as the capital of David’s kingdom during the first seven years and a half of his reign. It lies 20 miles south of Jerusalem, picturesquely situated in a narrow valley surrounded by rocky hills, whose sides are clothed with luxuriant vineyards. Its modern name is El Khulîl = “The Friend,” in memory of Abraham who was called “the friend of God” ( 2 Chronicles 20:7 ; Isaiah 41:8 ; James 2:13 ). all the places , &c.] It is evident that David’s outlaw life must have lasted for some considerable time, and have proved an important factor in preparing the men of Judah to welcome him as their king. The instances quoted above indicate that it was during this period that he gained many of the faithful friends who afterwards filled offices of trust in his kingdom.

26–31. 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 .

(31) Hebron. —Hebron is one of the most ancient known cities in the world. It is now called El-Khalil (“friend of God”), owing to Abraham’s residence there. During the early years of David’s rule, which followed the death of Saul, Hebron was the residence and royal city of David. Beneath the building of the present Mosque of Hebron is the famous Cave of Machpelah, where Abraham and Sarah and the patriarchs Isaac and Jacob, and his wife Leah, are buried.

Aroer; not that beyond Jordan, Numbers 32:34 , as many think, which was too remote from David; but another place of that name in Judah, where the rest of the places here named were; this being one of those places where David and his men were wont to haunt, as is expressed, 1 Samuel 30:31 .

26. when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil to the elders 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 (1Ch 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 [1Sa 30:27-31].

Hormah in the Negeb ( Joshua 15:30 ) is Zephath, the present Zepta, on the western slope of the Rakhma plateau (see at Joshua 12:14 ). Cor-ashan, probably the same place as Ashan in the shephelah, upon the border of the Negeb, has not yet been discovered (see at Joshua 15:42 ). Athach is only mentioned here, and quite unknown. According to Thenius, it is probably a mistaken spelling for Ether in the tribe of Simeon ( Joshua 19:7 ; Joshua 15:43 ). Hebron, the present el Khulil, Abraham's city (see at Joshua 10:3 ; Genesis 23:17 ).