1 Samuel 30:17

And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

And David {H1732} smote {H5221} them from the twilight {H5399} even unto the evening {H6153} of the next day {H4283}: and there escaped {H4422} not a man {H376} of them, save four {H702} hundred {H3967} young {H5288} men {H376}, which rode {H7392} upon camels {H1581}, and fled {H5127}.

David attacked them from dawn until the evening of the next day. Not one of them escaped, except for 400 young men who jumped on camels and got away.

And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels.

And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, who rode upon camels and fled.

Commentary

1 Samuel 30:17 vividly depicts the decisive and exhaustive victory of David and his men over the Amalekites, who had recently plundered Ziklag and captured their families.

Context

This verse marks the culmination of a period of intense distress and divinely guided action for David. Upon returning to their home in Ziklag, David and his men found it burned and their wives and children taken captive (1 Samuel 30:1-3). Despite the profound grief and the anger of his own men, David courageously encouraged himself in the Lord his God. He then sought divine guidance through the ephod (1 Samuel 30:7-8), receiving God’s explicit promise: "Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all." An abandoned Egyptian servant led David directly to the Amalekite encampment, where they were feasting and celebrating their plunder, completely unaware of David's impending, God-ordained attack.

Key Themes

  • Divine Retribution and Justice: The Amalekites were a persistent and cruel enemy of Israel, first attacking them shortly after the Exodus (Exodus 17:8) and consistently showing hostility. This overwhelming defeat represents a significant act of divine judgment against their long history of aggression, culminating in their recent raid on Ziklag.
  • God's Faithfulness and Promise: The verse is a powerful testament to God's explicit promise of success to David. Despite initial despair, David trusted God's word, and the Lord delivered a complete victory, enabling the recovery of all that had been lost.
  • David's Resolute Leadership: Even under immense pressure and the threat of his own men turning against him, David demonstrated remarkable spiritual and military leadership. His decision to seek God, pursue relentlessly, and execute a sustained, strategic attack highlights his unwavering determination and dependence on God.
  • Total Victory and Recovery: The detailed description "smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day" emphasizes the intensity, duration, and thoroughness of the battle. The escape of only 400 young men signifies the near-total annihilation of the raiding party, ensuring the full recovery of David's community and their possessions, just as God had promised.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "smote" is nakah (נָכָה), which conveys a strong, decisive blow, often resulting in defeat or death. The phrase "from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day" highlights the extraordinary duration and intensity of the pursuit and battle. This was not a swift skirmish but a prolonged, relentless engagement, underscoring the completeness of David's victory and the divine power behind it.

Practical Application

This account offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Encourage Yourself in the Lord: When faced with overwhelming loss, despair, or crisis, our primary response should be to find strength, hope, and direction in God (Psalm 42:11).
  • Seek Divine Guidance: Before acting in a crisis, it is crucial to inquire of the Lord and faithfully follow His direction, trusting that He will lead us to victory and restoration.
  • Persistence in Spiritual Warfare: The prolonged nature of David's battle reminds us that spiritual conflicts can be intense and require sustained effort, but with God's help, complete victory and recovery are possible.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 11:11 (4 votes)

    And it was [so] on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

  • Psalms 18:42 (3 votes)

    Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

  • 1 Kings 20:29 (2 votes)

    And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And [so] it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.

  • 1 Kings 20:30 (2 votes)

    But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and [there] a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men [that were] left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

  • Judges 4:16 (2 votes)

    But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; [and] there was not a man left.

  • 1 Samuel 15:3 (2 votes)

    Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.