30:1 on the third day Following Achish’s dismissing David from Aphek (29:9–11). Aphek was located approximately 50 miles north of Ziklag.

the Amalekites had raided They may have acted in retaliation (compare 27:8). On the continued presence of the Amalekites, see note on 15:8.

to Ziklag See 27:6 and note.

they burned it with fire burning conquered cities was typical of ancient Near Eastern warfare.

30:2 from the youngest to the oldest The Amalekites took everyone.

They did not kill anyone They simply took them as spoils of war.

30:5 the wife of Nabal See 27:3 and note.

30:6 spoke of stoning him They perceived that David’s plan to beguile the Philistines caused their loss.

Yahweh his God Here, Yahweh is called David’s God. In contrast, Saul refers to Yahweh as Samuel’s God (compare 15:15, 21, 30).

30:7 ephod David uses the ephod to inquire of Yahweh and receives his confirmation to pursue his enemies and rescue his men’s families. See 14:18 and note.

30:8 you will certainly overtake them, and you will certainly rescue This assurance strengthens David to lead his men even though they are doubting him.

30:10 they were too exhausted to pass over They have been traveling continuously for several days. Many of them are likely traveling on foot and carrying equipment.

30:13 my master abandoned me Being too sick, the raiders left him behind.

30:14 We raided He was part of the marauding horde that sacked Ziklag as well as much of southern Israel.

the Kerethites The identity of this ethnic group is unknown, though they appear to have been closely related to the Philistines and may have been one of the Sea Peoples (see note on 4:1; Ezek 25:16; Zeph 2:5). When David became king, Cherethites became part of his personal guard (2 Sam 8:18; 15:18; 1 Kgs 1:38, 44).

30:15 by God The Hebrew word used here, elohim, is plural and can refer to the God, Yahweh, or the gods. Since this Egyptian is likely not a follower of Yahweh, and probably does not know of David’s God Yahweh, the Egyptian is probably making an oath before the gods.

that you will not deliver me into my master’s hand The Egyptian is seeking assurances.

30:17 except four hundred young men Apparently, the enemy force is much larger than David’s; the narrative does not indicate that 400 escapees is a large number. David’s success despite the disparity in army size shows the divine nature of his mission.

Battles of Saul and David Table

30:18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken By recovering the families, David restores the confidence of his men in his ability to lead and deliver.

30:20 This is David’s plunder He later gives this these spoils as gifts to those who supported him during his wanderings (see vv. 26–31).

30:22 the corrupt and useless men The Hebrew phrase used here is derogatory and similar to the phrase used at 2:22, signaling that some of David’s company deserved their derided reputations.

30:24 They will share alike David accords those who protect the baggage with equal honor and spoils.

30:26 his friends Refers to those who were kind to him and provided for him while he fled from Saul (see v. 31). David understands that securing a power base bodes well for his security.

30:31 had roamed Since they consumed the resources of the land wherever they roamed, David pays back the landowners for their support.