1 Samuel 30:4

30:1-6 When we go abroad in the way of our duty, we may comfortably hope that God will take care of our families in our absence, but not otherwise. If, when we come off a journey, we find our abode in peace, and not laid waste, as David here found his, let the Lord be praised for it. David's men murmured against him. Great faith must expect such severe trials. But, observe, that David was brought thus low, only just before he was raised to the throne. When things are at the worst with the church and people of God, then they begin to mend. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. His men fretted at their loss, the soul of the people was bitter; their own discontent and impatience added to the affliction and misery. But David bore it better, though he had more reason than any of them to lament it. They gave liberty to their passions, but he set his graces to work; and while they dispirited each other, he, by encouraging himself in God, kept his spirit calm. Those who have taken the Lord for their God, may take encouragement from him in the worst times.

Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice,.... In doleful shrieks, and loud lamentations: and wept, until they had no more power to weep; till nature was quite exhausted, and no moisture left; so the Vulgate Latin version, "till tears failed in them"; they could shed no more.

1 Samuel 30:4 . David and his people lift up their voice and wept — As was natural, they thus gave way to the first transports of their grief on this sad sight. “It is no disparagement,” says Henry, “to the boldest, bravest spirits to lament the calamities of friends or relations.”

On the third day - This indicates that Aphek was three days' march from Ziklag, say about 50 miles, which agrees very well with the probable situation of Aphek ( 1 Samuel 4:1 note). From Ziklag to Shunem would not be less than 80 or 90 miles. The Amalekites, in retaliation of David's raids 1 Samuel 27:8-9, invaded "the south" of Judah Joshua 15:21; but owing to the absence of all the men with David there was no resistance, and consequently the women and children were carried off as prey, and uninjured.

(4) Then David and the people. — 1Samuel 30:1-4 form one period, which is expanded by the introduction of several circumstantial clauses. The apodosis to “it came to pass when,” &c., 1Samuel 30:1 , does not follow till 1Samuel 30:4 , “Then David and the people,” &c.; but this is formally attached to 1Samuel 30:3 . The statement, “So David and his men came,” with which the protasis commenced in 1Samuel 30:1 , is resumed in an altered form: “It came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag . . . the Amalekites had invaded . . . and had taken away the women captive . . . and had gone their way . . . and David and his men came into the city, and behold, it was burned. . . . Then David and the people with him lifted up their voice.”— Keil.

1 Samuel 30:1-4 form one period, which is expanded by the introduction of several circumstantial clauses. The apodosis to "It came to pass, when," etc. ( 1 Samuel 30:1 ), does not follow till 1 Samuel 30:4 , "Then David and the people," etc. But this is formally attached to 1 Samuel 30:3 , "so David and his men came," with which the protasis commenced in 1 Samuel 30:1 is resumed in an altered form. "It came to pass, when David and his men came to Ziklag ... the Amalekites had invaded ... and had carried off the wives ... and had gone their way, and David and his men came into the town (for 'when David and his men came,' etc.), and behold it was burned ... . Then David and the people with him lifted up their voice." "On the third day:" after David's dismission by Achish, not after David's departure from Ziklag. David had at any rate gone with Achish beyond Gath, and had not been sent back till the whole of the princes of the Philistines had united their armies ( 1 Samuel 29:2 .), so that he must have been absent from Ziklag more than two days, or two days and a half. This is placed beyond all doubt by 1 Samuel 30:11 ., since the Amalekites are there described as having gone off with their booty three days before David followed them, and therefore they had taken Ziklag and burned it three days before David's return. These foes had therefore taken advantage of the absence of David and his warriors, to avenge themselves for David's invasions and plunderings ( 1 Samuel 27:8 ).

Of those who were carried off, "the women" alone expressly mentioned in 1 Samuel 30:2 , although the female population and all the children had been removed, as we may see from the expression "small and great" ( 1 Samuel 30:3 , 1 Samuel 30:6 ). The lxx were therefore correct, so far as the sense is concerned, in introducing the words καὶ πάντα before בּהּ עשׁר. "They had killed no one, but (only) carried away." נהג, to carry away captive, as in Isaiah 20:4 . Among those who had been carried off were David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail (vid., 1 Samuel 25:42-43 ; 1 Samuel 27:3 ).