I Samuel 30

שמואל א׳ פרק ל׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 30 of 31 | Day: 75 of 742

Date: April 27, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 30 of I Samuel is a masterwork of narrative contrast. While Saul stumbles toward his doom on Mount Gilboa — having been abandoned by God, reduced to consulting a necromancer, and collapsing in despair (chapter 28) — David faces his own catastrophic moment and responds with precisely the qualities that mark him as Israel’s future king. The Amalekites have raided Ziklag in David’s absence, burning the city and carrying off every woman and child, including David’s own wives Ahinoam and Abigail. His men, maddened with grief, speak of stoning him. The text’s description of this nadir is stark: David is in “great distress” (ויצר לדוד מאד), his own band of loyal followers turning against him. It is at this moment of total vulnerability that the chapter delivers one of the most quietly powerful verses in all of Samuel: “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (ויתחזק דוד בה׳ אלהיו). Radak explains that David turned inward in prayer and trust, reminding himself that God had promised him the kingship — and that the same God who had delivered him from Saul and from the Philistines would not abandon him now. Rashi similarly notes that David sought courage through faith, not through human reassurance, marking a stark contrast with Saul’s frantic search for any oracle that might answer him.

David’s response to crisis follows a pattern that the book of Samuel has been building throughout its second half: he inquires of God through legitimate prophetic channels. He summons Abiathar the priest with the ephod (אפוד) — the same Abiathar who survived Saul’s massacre at Nob and has been David’s link to divine guidance ever since. The answer is unambiguous: “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them, and you shall surely rescue” (רדף כי השג תשיג והצל תציל). The doubled infinitive absolute construction conveys divine certainty. Where Saul received silence from God — “neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (28:6) — David receives a clear and encouraging oracle. The juxtaposition across these chapters is devastating in its theological implications: legitimacy of leadership, the text suggests, is confirmed not by anointing alone but by the ongoing divine relationship that sustains it.

The pursuit itself is narrated with characteristic biblical economy, but the episode of the abandoned Egyptian slave (נער מצרי) is rich with thematic significance. This nameless servant, left to die by his Amalekite master when he fell ill, becomes the instrument of the Amalekites’ destruction. David’s men feed him, revive him, and in return he leads them to the enemy camp. Metzudat David notes that the detail of three days without food and water parallels the “third day” of David’s own arrival at the ruined Ziklag, binding the narrative together temporally. The Amalekites, meanwhile, are found “spread out over all the ground, eating and drinking and celebrating” (נטושים על פני כל הארץ אכלים ושתים וחגגים) — a scene of careless revelry that recalls the vulnerability of those who believe themselves beyond consequence. David’s assault from twilight through the following evening achieves total victory: every captive recovered, not a single person lost.

The chapter’s second great contribution to Israelite legal and moral tradition comes in the aftermath of battle. When the “wicked and worthless men” (כל איש רע ובליעל) among David’s followers refuse to share the spoil with the two hundred who had been too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor, David overrules them with a principle that becomes permanent statute: “For as is the share of the one who goes down to battle, so shall be the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike” (כחלק הירד במלחמה וכחלק הישב על הכלים יחדו יחלקו). Radak observes that David frames this not as personal generosity but as recognition that the victory belongs to God — it was God who “guarded us and delivered the raiding band into our hands.” The law establishes that military contribution is not measured solely by physical presence at the front line, a principle with profound implications for communal responsibility. The verse explicitly states that this became “a statute and an ordinance for Israel from that day forward” (ויהי מהיום ההוא ומעלה וישמה לחק ולמשפט לישראל).

The chapter closes with David distributing gifts from the spoil to the elders of Judah across a wide network of southern towns — Bethel, Ramoth-negeb, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Hebron, and others. This is political wisdom of the highest order: David is building the constituency that will crown him king at Hebron in the opening chapters of II Samuel. The list of towns reads like an electoral map of David’s future kingdom. Yet the gesture is also genuine gratitude to communities that had sheltered him during his years as a fugitive. In a single chapter, David has demonstrated faith under pressure, legitimate access to divine guidance, military brilliance, judicial wisdom in establishing equitable law, and political acumen in cultivating loyalty. The contrast with Saul’s simultaneous collapse could not be more pointed: as one king falls, another rises, and the narrative ensures that the reader understands exactly why.

פרק ל׳ · Chapter 30

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֞י בְּבֹ֨א דָוִ֧ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֛יו צִֽקְלַ֖ג בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י וַעֲמָלֵקִ֣י פָֽשְׁט֗וּ אֶל־נֶ֙גֶב֙ וְאֶל־צִ֣��ְלַ֔ג וַיַּכּוּ֙ אֶת־צִ֣קְלַ֔ג וַיִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ אֹתָ֖הּ בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

English:

By the time David and his men arrived in Ziklag, on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negeb and against Ziklag; they had stormed Ziklag and burned it down.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁבּ֨וּ אֶת־הַנָּשִׁ֤ים אֲשֶׁר־בָּהּ֙ מִקָּטֹ֣ן וְעַד־גָּד֔וֹל לֹ֥א הֵמִ֖יתוּ אִ֑ישׁ וַיִּֽנְהֲג֔וּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לְדַרְכָּֽם׃

English:

They had taken the womenathe women Here representing all dependents. in it captive, low-born and high-born alike; they did not kill any, but carried them off and went their way.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֨א דָוִ֤ד וַאֲנָשָׁיו֙ אֶל־הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֥ה שְׂרוּפָ֖ה בָּאֵ֑שׁ וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם וּבְנֹתֵיהֶ֖ם נִשְׁבּֽוּ׃

English:

When David and his men came to the town and found it burned down, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive,

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א דָוִ֜ד וְהָעָ֧ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֛וֹ אֶת־קוֹלָ֖ם וַיִּבְכּ֑וּ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֵין־בָּהֶ֛ם כֹּ֖חַ לִבְכּֽוֹת׃

English:

David and the troops with him broke into tears, until they had no strength left for weeping.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וּשְׁתֵּ֥י נְשֵׁי־דָוִ֖ד נִשְׁבּ֑וּ אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֥ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃

English:

David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail wife of Nabal from Carmel.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַתֵּ֨צֶר לְדָוִ֜ד מְאֹ֗ד כִּֽי־אָמְר֤וּ הָעָם֙ לְסׇקְל֔וֹ כִּי־מָ֙רָה֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ עַל־בָּנָ֣ו וְעַל־בְּנֹתָ֑יו וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק דָּוִ֔ד בַּיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃ {ס}        

English:

David was in great danger,bin great danger Or “deeply distressed.” for the troops threatened to stone him; for all the troops were embittered on account of their sons and daughters.But David sought strength in the ETERNAL his God.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד אֶל־אֶבְיָתָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ בֶּן־אֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ הַגִּֽישָׁה־נָּ֥א לִ֖י הָאֵפ֑וֹד וַיַּגֵּ֧שׁ אֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־הָאֵפ֖וֹד אֶל־דָּוִֽד׃

English:

David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring the ephod up to me.” When Abiathar brought up the ephodcephod See note at 2.28. to David,

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל דָּוִ֤ד בַּֽיהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶרְדֹּ֛ף אַחֲרֵ֥י הַגְּדוּד־הַזֶּ֖ה הַאַשִּׂגֶ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ רְדֹ֔ף כִּֽי־הַשֵּׂ֥ג תַּשִּׂ֖יג וְהַצֵּ֥ל תַּצִּֽיל׃

English:

David inquired of GOD, “Shall I pursue those raiders? Will I overtake them?” The reply came, “Pursue, for you shall overtake and you shall rescue.”

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד ה֚וּא וְשֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־נַ֣חַל הַבְּשׂ֑וֹר וְהַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים עָמָֽדוּ׃

English:

So David and the six hundred men with him set out, and they came to the Wadi Besor, where a halt was made by those who were to be left behind.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף דָּוִ֔ד ה֖וּא וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֣וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ מָאתַ֣יִם אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פִּגְּר֔וּ מֵעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־נַ֥חַל הַבְּשֽׂוֹר׃

English:

David continued the pursuit with four hundred men; two hundred men had halted, too faint to cross the Wadi Besor.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ אִישׁ־מִצְרִי֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַיִּקְח֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּתּ��נוּ־ל֥וֹ לֶ֙חֶם֙ וַיֹּ֔אכַל וַיַּשְׁקֻ֖הוּ מָֽיִם׃

English:

In the open country, they came upon an Egyptian—and brought him to David. They gave him food to eat and water to drink;

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיִּתְּנוּ־לוֹ֩ פֶ֨לַח דְּבֵלָ֜ה וּשְׁנֵ֤י צִמֻּקִים֙ וַיֹּ֔אכַל וַתָּ֥שׇׁב רוּח֖וֹ אֵלָ֑יו כִּ֠י לֹא־אָ֤כַל לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְלֹא־שָׁ֣תָה מַ֔יִם שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה לֵילֽוֹת׃ {ס}        

English:

he was also given a piece of pressed fig cake and two cakes of raisins. He ate and regained his strength, for he had eaten no food and drunk no water for three days and three nights.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֤וֹ דָוִד֙ לְֽמִי־אַ֔תָּה וְאֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה אָ֑תָּה וַיֹּ֜אמֶר נַ֧עַר מִצְרִ֣י אָנֹ֗כִי עֶ֚בֶד לְאִ֣ישׁ עֲמָלֵקִ֔י וַיַּעַזְבֵ֧נִי אֲדֹנִ֛י כִּ֥י חָלִ֖יתִי הַיּ֥וֹם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

English:

Then David asked him, “To whom do you belong and where are you from?” “I am an Egyptian lad,”dlad Or “servant.” he answered, “the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I fell ill three days ago.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

אֲנַ֡חְנוּ פָּשַׁ֜טְנוּ נֶ֧גֶב הַכְּרֵתִ֛י וְעַל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִיהוּדָ֖ה וְעַל־נֶ֣גֶב כָּלֵ֑ב וְאֶת־צִֽקְלַ֖ג שָׂרַ֥פְנוּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃

English:

We had raided the Negeb of the Cherethites, and [the Negeb] of Judah, and the Negeb of Caleb; we also burned down Ziklag.”

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ דָּוִ֔ד הֲתוֹרִדֵ֖נִי אֶל־הַגְּד֣וּד הַזֶּ֑ה וַיֹּ֡אמֶר הִשָּׁ֩בְעָה֩ לִּ֨י בֵאלֹהִ֜ים אִם־תְּמִיתֵ֗נִי וְאִם־תַּסְגִּרֵ֙נִי֙ בְּיַד־אֲדֹנִ֔י וְאוֹרִֽדְךָ֖ אֶל־הַגְּד֥וּד הַזֶּֽה׃

English:

And David said to him, “Can you lead me down to that band?” He replied, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into my master’s hands, and I will lead you down to that band.”

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣רִדֵ֔הוּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה נְטֻשִׁ֖ים עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כׇל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֹכְלִ֤ים וְשֹׁתִים֙ וְחֹ֣גְגִ֔ים בְּכֹל֙ הַשָּׁלָ֣ל הַגָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֛וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָֽה׃

English:

So he led him down, and there they were, scattered all over the ground, eating and drinking and making merry because of all the vast spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיַּכֵּ֥ם דָּוִ֛ד מֵהַנֶּ֥שֶׁף וְעַד־הָעֶ֖רֶב לְמׇחֳרָתָ֑ם וְלֹא־נִמְלַ֤ט מֵהֶם֙ אִ֔ישׁ כִּי֩ אִם־אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֧וֹת אִֽישׁ־נַ֛עַר אֲשֶׁר־רָכְב֥וּ עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים וַיָּנֻֽסוּ׃

English:

David attacked them from before dawn until the evening of the next day;ebefore dawn … next day Meaning of Heb. uncertain. none of them escaped, except four hundred young men who mounted camels and got away.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיַּצֵּ֣ל דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֖וּ עֲמָלֵ֑ק וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּ֥י נָשָׁ֖יו הִצִּ֥יל דָּוִֽד׃

English:

David rescued everything the Amalekites had taken; David also rescued his two wives.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וְלֹ֣א נֶעְדַּר־לָ֠הֶ֠ם מִן־הַקָּטֹ֨ן וְעַד־הַגָּד֜וֹל וְעַד־בָּנִ֤ים וּבָנוֹת֙ וּמִשָּׁלָ֔ל וְעַ֛ד כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם הַכֹּ֖ל הֵשִׁ֥יב דָּוִֽד׃

English:

Nothing of theirs was missing—young or old, sons or daughters, spoil or anything else that had been carried off—David recovered everything.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיִּקַּ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־כׇּל־הַצֹּ֖אן וְהַבָּקָ֑ר נָהֲג֗וּ לִפְנֵי֙ הַמִּקְנֶ֣ה הַה֔וּא וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ זֶ֖ה שְׁלַ֥ל דָּוִֽד׃

English:

David took all the flocks and herds, which [the troops] drove ahead of the other livestock;fwhich [the troops] drove ahead of the other livestock Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and they declared, “This is David’s spoil.”

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֣א דָוִ֗ד אֶל־מָאתַ֨יִם הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים אֲשֶֽׁר־פִּגְּר֣וּ ׀ מִלֶּ֣כֶת ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֗ד וַיֹּֽשִׁיבֻם֙ בְּנַ֣חַל הַבְּשׂ֔וֹר וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֔ד וְלִקְרַ֖את הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ דָּוִד֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וַיִּשְׁאַ֥ל לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ {ס}        

English:

When David reached the two hundred men who were too faint to follow David and who had been left at the Wadi Besor, they came out to welcome David and the troops with him; David came forward with the troops and greeted them.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֜עַן כׇּל־אִֽישׁ־רָ֣ע וּבְלִיַּ֗עַל מֵהָאֲנָשִׁים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלְכ֣וּ עִם־דָּוִד֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־הָלְכ֣וּ עִמִּ֔י לֹא־נִתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֔ם מֵהַשָּׁלָ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִצַּ֑לְנוּ כִּֽי־אִם־אִ֤ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֔יו וְיִנְהֲג֖וּ וְיֵלֵֽכוּ׃ {��}        

English:

But all the mean and churlish ones among the men who had accompanied David spoke up, “Since they did not accompany us,gus So some mss. and versions; most mss. and editions read “me.” we will not give them any of the spoil that we seized—except that each may take his wife and children and go.”

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד לֹא־תַעֲשׂ֥וּ כֵ֖ן אֶחָ֑י אֵ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֥ה לָ֙נוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁמֹ֣ר אֹתָ֔נוּ וַיִּתֵּ֗ן אֶֽת־הַגְּד֛וּד הַבָּ֥א עָלֵ֖ינוּ בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃

English:

David, however, spoke up, “You must not do that, my brothers, in view ofhmy brothers, in view of Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Septuagint reads ���after.” what GOD has granted us, guarding us and delivering into our hands the band that attacked us.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וּמִי֙ יִשְׁמַ֣ע לָכֶ֔ם לַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֞י כְּחֵ֣לֶק ׀ הַיֹּרֵ֣ד בַּמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וּֽכְחֵ֛לֶק הַיֹּשֵׁ֥ב עַל־הַכֵּלִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֥ו יַחֲלֹֽקוּ׃ {ס}        

English:

How could anyone agree with you in this matter? The share of those who remain with the baggage shall be the same as the share of those who go down to battle; they shall share alike.”

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֕י מֵהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָמָ֑עְלָה וַיְשִׂמֶ֜הָ לְחֹ֤ק וּלְמִשְׁפָּט֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {פ}

English:

So from that day on it was made a fixed rule for Israel, continuing to the present day.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶל־צִ֣קְלַ֔ג וַיְשַׁלַּ֧ח מֵהַשָּׁלָ֛ל לְזִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֤ה לָכֶם֙ בְּרָכָ֔ה מִשְּׁלַ֖ל אֹיְבֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}        

English:

When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah [and] to his friends,i[and] to his friends Meaning of Heb. uncertain. saying, “This is a present for you from our spoil of GOD’s enemies.”

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

לַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּבֵֽית־אֵ֛ל {ס}        וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרָמֽוֹת־נֶ֖גֶב {ס}        וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיַתִּֽר׃ {ס}        

English:

[He sent the spoil to the elders] in Bethel,jBethel Called Bethul in Josh. 19.4. Ramoth-negeb, and Jattir;

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בַּעֲרֹעֵ֛ר {ס}        וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּשִֽׂפְמ֖וֹת {ס}        וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּאֶשְׁתְּמֹֽעַ׃ {ס}        

English:

in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa;

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וְלַאֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּרָכָ֗ל {ס}        וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִ֔י {ס}        וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעָרֵ֥י הַקֵּינִֽי׃ {ס}        

English:

in Racal, in the towns of the Jerahmeelites, and in the towns of the Kenites;

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּחׇרְמָ֛ה {ס}        וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּבוֹר־עָשָׁ֖ן {ס}        וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּעֲתָֽךְ׃ {ס}        

English:

in Hormah, Bor-ashan, and Athach;

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וּֽלְכׇל־הַמְּקֹמ֛וֹת אֲשֶֽׁר־הִתְהַלֶּךְ־שָׁ֥ם דָּוִ֖ד ה֥וּא וַאֲנָשָֽׁיו׃ {פ}

English:

and to those in Hebron—all the places where David and his men had roamed.

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