“And David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us."”
1 Samuel 30:23
Summary
In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men return to Ziklag after a campaign with the Philistines only to discover that the Amalekites have raided their city. They have burned it to the ground and taken captive the women and children, including David's own family. Overcome with grief, David's men consider stoning him, but instead of succumbing to despair, David strengthens himself in the Lord. He seeks guidance from God through the priest Abiathar and is instructed to pursue the Amalekites. David and his men set out, manage to find an Egyptian slave who leads them to the Amalekite camp, and ultimately defeat them, recovering everything that was taken from Ziklag. The chapter concludes with David graciously distributing the spoils of victory among his men, even sharing with those who stayed behind to guard the baggage, emphasizing the importance of unity and generosity among God's people.