The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 536

priest to ask counsel e.nd guidance of God by CHAPTER XXX. the ephod. DAVID UPON HIS 'RETURN FINDS Zlll:LAG DAVID'S PURSUIT OF THE AlllALEKITES JIURNT BY THE AMALEKITES (vers. 1-6). (vers. 7-16). Vers. 7, 8.-Looking only to Ver. 1.-0n the third day. David evidently Jehovah for aid, David sends for Abiathar, could not have gone with the Philistines as who seems to have remained constantly with far as to Shunem ; for, as noticed in the pre- him, and bids him consult Jehovah by tlie vious chapter, it would have been impossible Urim. In strong contrast to the silence to march back to Ziklag in so short a time. which surrounds Saul (eh. xxviii. 6), the But as he had gone :first to Gath, where no answer is most encouraging. Literally it is, doubt Achish collected his vassals, and then " Pursue ; for overtaking thou shalt over- marched northwards with the army for two take, and delivering thou shalt delivor." days, he must altogether have been absent Vers. 9, 10.-Having obtained this favour- from Ziklag for some little time. The A.ma-. able answer, David starts in pursuit with his lekites. Doubtless they were glad to retali- old band of 600 men. So ra.pid was his march ate upon Da,id for his cruel treatment of that one third of these dropped out of the them; but, besides, they lived by rapine, and ra.n.ks, so that the new-comers fr.om Manasseh when the :fip:hting men of Philistia and of would have been useless, nor had they lost Ju<lrea were marching away to war, it was just wives or children. The brook (or rather the opportunity which they wished of spoiling "torrent") Besor practically remains un- the defenceless country. The south. I. e. the identified, as the site of Zi.klag is unknown; Negeb, for which see eh. xxvii. 10. It was but possibly it is the Wady-es-Sheriah, which the name especially given to the southern runs into the sea a little to the south of district of Judah, whence these freebooters Gaza. As there was water here, those that turn eel westward towards Ziklag. They would were left behind stayed. Hebrew, " the probably not dare to penetrate far into either stragglers stayed." It seems also to have territory. The word for invaded is the same been wide enough to cause some difficulty as iu eh. xxvii. 8, and implies that they in crossing, as it is said that these 200 were spread themselves over the country to drive too faint, or tired, to go over the torrent off cattle and booty, but with no intention Besor. From ver. 24 we find that David of fighting battles. also left with them as much as possible of Yers. 2--5.-They slew not any. No his baggage. Stragglers had no doubt been resistance was made, as the men of war were falling out for some time, but would here be all a way. It was probably for thus leaving rallied, and obtain rest and refreshment. their "ives and families absolutely defence- Vers. 11, 12.-An Egyptian, the slave, as less that David's people were so angry with we read in ver. 13, of some Amalekite, lef~ him. As we are told in eh. xxvii. 3 that in the field, in the open common, to perish. the refugees with David had brought each his He had become faint and could not travel as household with him into the Philistine terri- fast as they did, and so was left behind with 110 tory, tbe number o women must have been supplies of food, for he had eaten nothing for large. The Amalekites spared their lives, three days and three nights. The Amaleki tes not l,ecause they were more merciful than had thus a start of at least this tiwe, or even David. uut because women and children were more, as this slave would probably have valual;le as slaves. All the best would be carried some food away with him from Ziklag. picked out, and sent probably to Egypt for Ver. 13.-To whom belongest thou l As sale. he was probably unarmed; and his garb that Ver. 6.-The soul of all the people was of a slave, David asks who is his owner an,! grieved. Hebrew, " was bitter." Their what his country. He learns from him besides great sorrow is pathetically described in ver. that he was left behind three days ago because 4. But, as is often the case with those in he fell sick. 'fhe word does not imply more distress, from grief they turned to anger, and than temporary faintness, and is that trans- sought relief for their feelings by venting their lated ,<O'•"r?J in eh. xxii. 8. But his life was rage upon the innocent. Possibly David had of too little valne for them to mount him on not taken precautions against a danger which a camel, or even to leave with him suppli~s he had not apprehended; but, left almost of food, an,! so their inhumanity led to their friencl]r-ss in the angry crowd who were calling destrnction. out to stone him, he encouraged himself in Ver. 1-1. -The Cherethites. The interest Jehovah hie God. Literally, "strcngthe11cd in this people arises from David's body-guard himself" in tl"•:hovah, and summonrd the having been composed of forei/(1lers bearing CH, XXX, 1--31.] 'l'III~ F!ll'3T BOOK OF SAMUEL.