John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. So David went, he and the six hundred men that [were] with him , etc.] Encouraged by the oracle of the Lord: and came to the brook Besor ; which Adrichomius places in the tribe of Simeon; it is thought to be near Gaza. Aristaeus speaks of brooks that flowed by Gaza and Ashdod, places that belonged to the Philistines; some take it to be the river of the wilderness in Amos, (see Gill on “ Amos 6:14”): where those that were left behind stayed : or a part of them were left, as the Targum; all the six hundred came to this brook, but two hundred of them were left here, ( 1 Samuel 30:10) shows, and stayed here till the rest returned; for this is not to be understood of any that were left behind at Ziklag, for all came from thence to this brook.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-15 - If in all our ways, even when, as in this case, there can be no doub they are just, we acknowledge God, we may expect that he will direc our steps, as he did those of David. David, in tenderness to his men would by no means urge them beyond their strength. The Son of Davi thus considers the frames of his followers, who are not all alik strong and vigorous in their spiritual pursuits and conflicts; but where we are weak, there he is kind; nay more, there he is strong, 2C 12:9, 10. A poor Egyptian lad, scarcely alive, is made the means of great deal of good to David. Justly did Providence make this poor servant, who was basely used by his master, an instrument in the destruction of the Amalekites; for God hears the cry of the oppressed Those are unworthy the name of true Israelites, who shut up their compassion from persons in distress. We should neither do an injury no deny a kindness to any man; some time or other it may be in the powe of the lowest to return a kindness or an injury.
Original Hebrew וילך1980 דוד1732 הוא1931 ושׁשׁ8337 מאות3967 אישׁ376 אשׁר834 אתו854 ויבאו935 עד5704 נחל5158 הבשׂור1308 והנותרים3498 עמדו׃5975
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