1 Samuel 30:13

And David said unto him, To whom [belongest] thou? and whence [art] thou? And he said, I [am] a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

And David {H1732} said {H559} unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said {H559}, I am a young man {H5288} of Egypt {H4713}, servant {H5650} to an Amalekite {H376}{H6003}; and my master {H113} left {H5800} me, because three {H7969} days {H3117} agone I fell sick {H2470}.

David asked him, "To whom do you belong, and where are you from?" He answered, "I'm an Egyptian boy, the slave of an 'Amaleki. My master abandoned me three days ago, because I got sick.

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

And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.

Commentary

1 Samuel 30:13 KJV details a pivotal moment in David's pursuit of the Amalekite raiders who had sacked Ziklag and captured his family. This verse introduces a crucial figure: an abandoned Egyptian servant whose testimony provides the key to locating the enemy.

Context

Following the devastating raid on Ziklag, where David and his men found their city burned and their families taken captive (1 Samuel 30:1-2), David was in deep distress, yet he "encouraged himself in the Lord his God". After consulting the Urim and Thummim, David received divine confirmation to pursue the raiders. While on their pursuit, they found a sick, abandoned man in a field. David's direct questions, "To whom [belongest] thou? and whence [art] thou?", demonstrate his immediate need for intelligence, showing his leadership in a crisis.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence: God often uses unexpected individuals and circumstances to guide His servants. The discovery of this abandoned servant was no accident; it was a crucial link in God's plan for David to recover all.
  • Compassion and Inquiry: Despite their urgent mission, David and his men first provided sustenance and care to the sick man (1 Samuel 30:11-12) before questioning him. This act of humanity likely encouraged the servant to speak freely.
  • The Value of Information: The servant's identity as an "Egyptian, servant to an Amalekite" and his reason for abandonment ("because three days agone I fell sick") immediately provided critical insights into the enemy's movements and their callous nature.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses bracketed words like "[belongest]" and "[art]" to indicate words supplied by the translators for clarity and grammatical flow in English. The core Hebrew questions posed by David are direct and probing, aiming to establish the man's allegiance and origin. The servant's reply is equally direct, identifying himself first by nationality ("young man of Egypt") and then by servitude ("servant to an Amalekite"), which immediately establishes his connection to David's enemies.

Related Scriptures

  • The Amalekites were long-standing enemies of Israel, with God declaring perpetual war against them (Exodus 17:16). Their cruelty, exemplified by abandoning a sick servant, was consistent with their character.
  • This encounter directly leads to David's complete recovery of all that the Amalekites had taken, including their wives and children, fulfilling the Lord's promise.

Practical Application

  • Openness to Divine Guidance: This passage reminds us that God can use the most unexpected sources—even a discarded, sick individual—to provide crucial answers or direction in our lives.
  • The Power of Compassion: David's act of mercy towards the servant not only reflects godly character but also proved strategically beneficial, demonstrating that kindness can open doors to vital information and aid.
  • Diligent Inquiry: When facing challenges, it is important to ask the right questions and gather information diligently. David's strategic questioning enabled him to understand the situation and plan his next moves effectively.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • James 2:13

    For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

  • Proverbs 12:10

    ¶ A righteous [man] regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.

  • Job 31:13

    If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

  • Job 31:15

    Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
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