Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 16. Out of the land of the Philistines] That these Amalekites were enemies to the Philistines is evident, but it certainly does not follow from this that those whom David destroyed were enemies also. This, I think, has been too hastily assumed by Dr. Chandler and others, in order the better to vindicate the character of David.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Spread abroad upon all the earth; secure and careless, because they were now come almost to the borders of their own country, and the Philistines and Israelites both were otherwise engaged, and David, as they believed, with them. So they had no visible cause of danger; and yet then they were nearest to their destruction.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

16. they were spread abroad upon allthe earthBelieving that David and all his men of war were faraway, engaged with the Philistine expedition, they deemed themselvesperfectly secure and abandoned themselves to all manner of barbaricrevelry. The promise made in answer to the devout inquiries of David(1Sa 30:8) was fulfilled. Themarauders were surprised and panic-stricken. A great slaughterensuedthe people as well as the booty taken from Ziklag wasrecovered, besides a great amount of spoil which they had collectedin a wide, freebooting excursion.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And when he had brought him down,…. To the place where the company of the Amalekites were, or near it:

behold, [they were] spread abroad upon all the earth; they were not in any regular order, and much less in any military form, but lay about in the fields, scattered here and there, were in detached parties:

some eating and drinking; in one place:

and dancing; others, in another place, expressing their joy, and perhaps their thankfulness to their idols

because of the great spoil they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah; from Ziklag, and from the south of the Cherethites, and the south of Judah, they had invaded, 1Sa 30:14; and here they were in the greatest security; knowing: that the armies of the Philistines were gone into the land of Israel, and were about to engage in battle with the Israelites, and David they supposed was with the Philistines, so that they had nothing to fear from any quarter; and thus it is often, that when men cry peace, peace, sudden destruction comes upon them.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(16) Spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking and dancing.We have here a vivid picture of the wild license which these barbarians allowed themselves, now that they were secure, as they thought, from all pursuit. When the picked warriors of Davids troops looked on the scene of revelry and debauch, and thought who were among the captives in that disorderly encampment, and remembered what homes had been made desolate to provide much of that great spoil over which Amalek was rejoicing, we may well conceive with what strength and fury the little veteran force of Israelites fell upon these desert robbers, who evidently far out-numbered them.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

(16) And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. (17) And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. (18) And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. (19) And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David recovered all. (20) And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.

The event, in the recovery not only of all they had lost but much more, serves to show how confident they ought to be of success who trust in God’s promises, who can and will in his own time accomplish all his holy will. But beside the providential instruction this part of David’s history affords, there is a spiritual lesson to be gathered from it yet more sweet and precious. As David came upon the spoil in a moment they thought themselves secure, and were triumphing over their poor captives: so a greater than David, even David’s Lord, came upon the great enemy of souls when he stood triumphing over our fall, and rescued us from the hand of him that was stronger than we. Beautifully it is said of Jesus that he led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea even for the rebellious: for we were all rebellious and undeserving of his favour, when he came to save us from the prey of the mighty. And as the soldiers in David’s army called the victory David’s spoil, so we shout aloud, Salvation alone to God and the Lamb! It was thine own arm, dearest Jesus, which brought salvation, for of the people; in the way of victory, there was none with thee. Isa 63:5 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

1Sa 30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, [they were] spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

Ver. 16. And when he had brought him down. ] For he knew by some means where they would rendezvous; and there they were spread abroad at random. Security ushereth in destruction, as it did not many years since at Verona in Italy. The story is this Nicolaus Picinninus, fighting against the Venetians, and being beaten by them, rallied his forces, and suddenly set upon Verona, fearing nothing less than a beaten enemy, and took it. But whilst his soldiers were plundering, and pleasing themselves in their so-soon-gotten victory, they were easily overcome again by Francis Sfortia coming unexpectedly upon them. So that that city was twice together taken by the same means, securitate et negligentia utrisque exitiali, saith the historian; that is, by security and negligence, destructive to both parties. a

Eating and drinking, and dancing. ] Or, Keeping holiday. So Abraham found and routed Chedorlaomer and his army: Gen 14:15 Ahab, the Syrians: 1Ki 20:16 Tomyris, the Persians: the Turks, twenty thousand Dutchmen in Joppa, drinking themselves drunk upon Martin’s day, their arch-saint. b In the fight at Bannockburn, in Scotland, c where the English were, under Edward II, overthrown, in the English camp wassail A salutation used when presenting a cup of wine to a guest, or drinking the health of a person, the reply being drink-hail. and drink-hail The customary courteous reply to a pledge in drinking in early English times. The cup was offered with the salutation ws hail ‘health or good luck to you’ (see wassail), to which the reply was drink hail, ‘drink good health or good luck’. were thundered extraordinarily, as accounting themselves sure of the victory. d Far otherwise the Bruce’s army, which by his commandment spent the evening in making humble confession of their sins, and so to fit themselves on the morrow to receive the sacrament, &c.

a Balth., Exner. Val. Max., Christ., p. 379.

b Justin.

c Full., Holy War.

d Speed, 671.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

earth = surrounding land.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Sharing the Spoil

1Sa 30:16-31

He that lays hold on Gods strength will be courteous in his behavior to the weak and weary, and will not quail before the clamor of men of Belial. Thus we are not surprised to learn that David kindly inquired of the two hundred as to their welfare, 1Sa 30:21, r.v. margin, and insisted that they should share equally with those who went to battle. This was a beautiful instance of sanctified common sense, and the reasonableness of the decision appealed to his followers. The gains and losses of the whole band must be shared equally by those at the front and in the rear. This is Gods rule! He that receives the prophet shall have the prophets reward. Girls who stay at home to care for aged mothers, instead of becoming missionaries; young men who maintain orphaned brothers and sisters; invalids confined to their rooms-let such take heart. They shall share in the victory of their Lord. Davids thankful joy yielded practical fruit in his generous gifts to those who had showed him kindness in his adversity. Gratitude is the trait of a noble nature. Let us share our possessions with others less favored, and increase our own enjoyment, 2Co 8:14-15.

Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary

when he: Jdg 1:24, Jdg 1:25

eating: 1Sa 25:36-38, Exo 32:6, Exo 32:17-19, Exo 32:27, Exo 32:28, Jdg 16:23-30, 2Sa 13:28, Isa 22:13, Dan 5:1-4, Luk 12:19, Luk 12:20, Luk 17:27-29, Luk 21:34, Luk 21:35, 1Th 5:3, Rev 11:10-13

because of all: Job 20:5

Reciprocal: Jdg 8:11 – secure 1Sa 30:14 – the Cherethites 1Ki 4:20 – eating 1Ki 20:20 – escaped Psa 119:162 – as one Pro 23:34 – thou Pro 30:22 – a fool Ecc 7:4 – the heart Isa 9:3 – and as men Mat 24:38 – they

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1Sa 30:16-17. They were spread upon all the earth Secure and careless, because they were now come almost to the borders of their own country, and the Philistines and Israelites both were otherwise engaged, and David, as they believed, with them. So they had no visible cause of danger; and yet then they were nearest to destruction! David smote them from the twilight The word signifies both the morning and evening twilight. But the latter seems here intended, partly because their eating, and drinking, and dancing, was more proper work for the evening than the morning; and partly because the evening was more convenient for David, that the fewness of his forces might not be discovered by the daylight. It is probable that, when he came near them, he reposed himself and his army in some secret place, whereof there were many in those parts, for a convenient season; and then marched on so as to come to them at the evening time.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, [they were] spread abroad upon all the earth, (h) eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

(h) The wicked in their pomp and pleasures do not consider the judgment of God, which is then at hand to smite them.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes

David’s successful victory over the Amalekites 30:16-20

The Amalekites were feasting on the plunder that they had taken, although the Egyptian servant had received nothing to eat or drink when he fell ill (cf. 1Sa 30:12). David launched his attack early in the morning the next day and continued fighting until night fell. Since 400 of the Amalekites escaped, as many as the total number of David’s soldiers (1Sa 30:10), they obviously had a much larger army than David did. The camel was the vehicle of choice at this time; it was the fastest means of transportation (cf. Jdg 7:12). David recovered everything substantial (cf. 1Sa 30:16) that the Amalekites had taken plus booty from this enemy (cf. 1Sa 30:26).

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)