John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag, on the third day , etc.] Either from their departure from thence, when they went out with Achish, or rather from the time of their leaving Achish, and the camp of the Philistines; so long they were upon their march homewards, (see 2 Samuel 1:1,2); and no wonder, if it was the distance of eighty eight miles, (see Gill on “ 1 Samuel 29:11”); that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag ; the southern parts of the land of the Philistines, and of Judah, as appears from ( 1 Samuel 30:14); taking the opportunity of the Philistines being gone into the land of Israel, and particularly of David’s absence from Ziklag, to whom they bore a grudge for his invasion, destruction, and spoil of them not long ago, (see 1 Samuel 27:8); and smitten Ziklag, and burnt it with fire ; not that they smote the inhabitants of it, there were no men in it, and the women and children they carried captive; but they demolished the buildings in it, pulled down the houses after they had rifled them, and burnt them with fire, that David and his men might dwell there no more.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - When we go abroad in the way of our duty, we may comfortably hope tha 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 no 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 sever trials. But, observe, that David was brought thus low, only just befor 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 encourage 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 mor 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 eac other, he, by encouraging himself in God, kept his spirit calm. Thos who have taken the Lord for their God, may take encouragement from his in the worst times.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 בבא935 דוד1732 ואנשׁיו376 צקלג6860 ביום3117 השׁלישׁי7992 ועמלקי6003 פשׁטו6584 אל413 נגב5045 ואל413 צקלג6860 ויכו5221 את853 צקלג6860 וישׂרפו8313 אתה853 באשׁ׃784
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