DAVID DESTROYS THE AMALEKITES 1 SAMUEL 30:1-31

Transcription

1 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell DAVID DESTROYS THE AMALEKITES 1 SAMUEL 30:1-31

2 2 Text: 1 Samuel 30:1-31, David Destroys the Amalekites Commentary by Ron Thomas 1. David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2. and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 3. When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5. David's two wives had been captured Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. 7. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." Abiathar brought it to him, 8. and David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" "Pursue them," he answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue." 9. David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind,

3 for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit. 11.They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat- 12. part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights. 13. David asked him, "To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?" He said, "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. 14. We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag." 15. David asked him, "Can you lead me down to this raiding party?" He answered, "Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them." 16. He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. 17. David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20. He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder." 21. Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them.

4 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go." 23. David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. 24. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." 25. David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. 26. When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, "Here is a present for you from the plunder of the LORD's enemies." 27. He sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; 28. to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa 29. and Racal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; 30. to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach 31. and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where David and his men had roamed. (NIV) Commentary: I. The Amalekites attack. A. 1 Samuel 30:1,2, David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. (NIV) B. The Amalekites had a history, already, in the book of 1 Samuel.

5 Earlier, Saul was told by the Lord to destroy them, but he failed to do so. 2. Thus, in part, we read of their raiding party ransacking the southern portion of what we know to be the Negev, and Ziklag where David and his men resided. C. From the time David received word from Achish, he was a three (3) day journey about fifty (50) miles (Klein, p, 271), from his destination. 1. They were fatigued and anxious to be home (a common human characteristics), only to discover the devastation and loss of their families. D. It is possible that the Amalekites did a turn-about-is-fair-play judging from 1 Samuel 27: Samuel 27:8, Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) (NIV) 2. David raided their territory and they turned around and did the same. II. David s crisis moment. A. 1 Samuel 30:3-6, When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David's two wives had been captured Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the

6 6 men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. (NIV) B. Fatigued and anxious men came back home and saw destruction. III. David appealed to the Lord for guidance. A. 1 Samuel 30:7-10, Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" "Pursue them," he answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue." David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind, for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit. They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat- (NIV) B. While Saul turned to a medium, David turned to the Lord; he went through Abiathar, using the ephod. 1. Ephod defined: A sacred vestment originally designed for the high priest (Exodus 28:4; Exodus 39:2), and made of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined lines, held together by two (2) shoulder pieces and a skillfully woven band which served as a girdle for the ephod. On the shoulder pieces were two (2) onyx stones on which were engraved the names of the twelve (12) tribes of Israel, It is not known whether the ephod extended below the hips or only to the waist. Attached to the ephod by chains of pure gold was a breastplate containing twelve (12) precious stones in four (4) rows. Underneath the ephod was the blue roe of

7 7 the ephod extending to the feet of the priest. The robe of the ephod was thus a garment comprising, in addition to the long robe proper, the ephod with its shoulder pieces and the breastplate of judgment (ISBE, E-Sword). 2. With these words, we do not learn the process of the High Priest s inquiry and answer from the Lord. We understand that an answer would come, but we do not know the how of it. Willis offers (p. 147) the idea that when the inquiry is made, the two stones will come back with a yes or no answer. C. David s inquiry of the Lord came back with a positive answer. 1. David found strength in the Lord from these inquiries and the Lord s response. 2. David received an answer from the Lord and then pursued the Amalekites. a. All six hundred (600) men took off, but two hundred (200) became too fatigued to go farther. b. They were left behind to tend to the belongings and the remaining four hundred (400) continued to pursue. 3. It would be well to remember that already a three (3) day journey had just concluded; they were now tired from that, angered at the destruction of their homestead, ready to stone David, and now they set out on foot to recapture what is their s, not knowing if they had any family left! IV. The Egyptian servant disclosed the Amalekites.

8 8 A. 1 Samuel 30:11-15, They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat- part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights. David asked him, "To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?" He said, "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag." David asked him, "Can you lead me down to this raiding party?" He answered, "Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them." (NIV) B. Davis mentioned that the Amalekites leaving this Egyptian servant (now left on his own to die) is indicative of the Amalekites being bold enough to go into Egyptian territory (p. 264) C. David gave the slave food for strength and then the slave led David s men to the raiding army of Amalek. 1. How much time was lost for this Egyptian to gain the necessary strength was made up in time because he knew where to locate the Amalekites. 2. David is able to ascertain all the necessary information about who did the damage to Ziklag, and to other areas. D. The Cherethites were Philistines or, at the very least, were associated in some way with the Philistines (Willis, pp ). David Recovered Their Personal Belongings

9 9 1 Samuel 30:16-25, He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder." Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go." David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. (NIV) I. The Amalekites at ease. A. 1 Samuel 30:16, He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. (NIV) B. The Amalekites knew there would be men coming after them to recover what was stolen.

10 10 C. Evidently feeling they were far enough away, they decided to rest and enjoy the spoils of war. D. All the captives must have been in a miserable state of mind. 1. Try to imagine the heartache and the dread the females were feeling! II. David attacked and recovered everything the Amalekites had taken. A. 1 Samuel 30:17-19, David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. (NIV) B. Whatever feeling at ease might have been theirs, all of a sudden it was gone. 1. They were in no position (or state of mind) to fight. C. David hit the Amalekites hard and quickly. 1. Still the battle was an all day affair. 2. The Amalekites were in total disarray and of their raiding party, only four hundred (400) survived. These escaped. D. No doubt the men of David s army were in great relief when they noticed that all that belonged to them (particularly their family members) were alive and well.

11 11 E. Coffman noted, From this, we must conclude that perhaps as many as a couple of thousand (2000) made up the force of the raiding Amalekites; and, in answer to the question of how could David with only four hundred (400) men have killed so many people, the answer is simple enough. As Henry suggested: They were celebrating, eating and drinking; many of them were doubtless drunk; they were off their guard; they might not even have had their weapons ready, and they were completely surprised ; and David s four hundred (400) angry, hardened soldiers would have had no difficulty at all in killing four hundred (400) men each, which is all it might have taken (Theophilos). F. We can say without a doubt that the Lord was with David because David called on the Lord before the battle began (1 Samuel 15:2-3) Samuel 15:2,3, This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.' " (NIV) III. A new statute in Israel. A. 1 Samuel 30:21-25, Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go." David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with

12 12 what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. (NIV) B. The men who stayed behind came to meet David to congratulate him on the great victory, but also to receive their families. C. Unfortunately, some of David s men were of the baser sort (1 Samuel 30:22) Samuel 30:22, But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go." (NIV) 2. They looked upon those who stayed behind as men unworthy of the battlefield s war spoils. 3. Willis noted that these men were so wicked in their thinking that they did not want the wearied ones to even stay within the army itself (pp ). 4. Why would the wicked men think this way? a. In truth, the best answer is another question.. Why do people think wickedly?. To gain more for themselves. D. David refused the suggestion and made clear that it was the Lord who gave the victory.

13 While others forgot the important thing (singular), David did not. 2. There was a practical consideration in this as well. Others would hear of their suggestion and conclude quickly the unreasonableness of the insistence that those who did not fight were to share the spoils with those who fought at the risk of their lives. 3. Then, as Davis said, David reminded the men that the precedent had already been established in Israel by Moses (Numbers 31:27; Joshua 22:8). a. Numbers 31:27, Divide the spoils between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. (NIV) b. Joshua 22:8, saying, "Return to your homes with your great wealth with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing and divide with your brothers the plunder from your enemies." (NIV) David Distributed the Spoils of War 1 Samuel 30:20, 26-31, He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder." When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, "Here is a present for you from the plunder of the LORD's enemies." He sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa and Racal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; to those in Hormah, Bor

14 14 Ashan, Athach and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where David and his men had roamed. (NIV) I. David returned from the battlefield with the spoils of war. He had for himself gained much. A. However, the spoils were not for David and his men only. B. David took advantage of the Lord s victory and distributed these spoils to those in Judah. II. Willis offered five (5) reasons why David distributed the spoils as he did (pp ). A. Perhaps these places were on the receiving end of the Amalekite raid. B. It may have been a way of showing gratitude to them for allowing David and his men to free roam. C. If any Judeans questioned David s loyalty, this could help them resolve their quandary. D. The large bounty could be a means of impressing on others that David and his men were a formidable force. E. David, as a Judean, was loyal to his heritage.

15 15 Questions 1 Samuel 30:1-31 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. days were required for David and his men to journey from back to. 2. What had happened while David and his men were away? 3. What was David s response to this turn of events? (see verses 4-6) 4. Why did David s men turn against him? Where did David get strength to withstand the opposition from his own men?

16 How did David determine what he should do in this difficult circumstance? What was the ephod? Who was Abiathar? How did a person get an answer from the ephod? 6. How does David s action in 30:7, 8 compare with Saul s action in 28:7, 8? 7. How many men left Ziklag to pursue the Amalekites? How many were with David when he overtook the Amalekites? What happened to the others? 8. Geographically locate the Besor Ravine, the Negev of the Kerethites and the Negev of Caleb.

17 Who was the Egyptian who was found in a field? How did he get there? How did David treat him? 10. What did he do in return for David? What conditions did he stipulate before helping David? 11. Were the Amalekites expecting David? How long did it take David to utterly defeat the Amalekites? How many Amalekites escaped? What successes resulted for David as a result of this attack? 12. Upon reaching the exhausted men at the Besor Ravine, what did evil men and troublemakers among David s followers propose?

18 Does it surprise you that some of David s followers were troublemakers? Does it surprise you that sometimes there are troublemakers in the church? Why or why not? 14. What did David say to these troublemakers? With what attitude did he say it? 15. What permanent statute and ordinance did David decree? See verse What did David do with the surplus plunder?

19 Was David a good politician?... a righteous man? Support your answer with facts. 18. Geographically locate Judah, Bethel, Ramoth Negev, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Racal, Jeralmeelite territory, land of the Kenites, Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach and Hebron. 19. Why was plunder given to these particular places?

20 What lessons have you learned from this study of chapter 30 that will help you live more righteously and prudently?

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