ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tu‘apulelulu Tisema 30, 2021 

pea a‘u ‘a Tēvita mo ‘ene kau tangata ki Sikilaki

David and his men came to Ziklag

1 Samiuela 30 (1 Samuel 30)

(v. 1-2) PEA ‘i he faifai pea a‘u ‘a Tēvita mo ‘ene kau tangata ki Sikilaki ‘i hono tolu ‘o e ‘aho, tā kuo ‘ohofia ‘e ha‘a ‘Amaleki ‘a e feitu‘u ko Tonga, mo Sikilaki, pea kuo nau taa‘i ‘a Sikilaki, mo tutu ia: pea kuo nau taki pōpula ‘a e kau fefine na‘e ‘i ai, ‘a e si‘i mo e lahi; na‘e ‘ikai te nau tāmate‘i ha taha, ka nau ‘ave pē, ‘o fai atu ‘enau fononga.

(v. 1-2) Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.

 

Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Being thus delivered, David returned to Ziklag. In his absence it had been sacked by the Amalekites. Immediately the true spirit of patriotic heroism was stirred within him, and he moved with rapid determination to avenge the wrong.

He was absolutely successful, inflicting punishment on his foes and rescuing from them all who were his own.

It is from this story that the history moves forward into the next Book. Having gathered spoils from his enemies, David sent presents to all the elders of Judah, and by this act undoubtedly prepared the way for establishing himself among them.

We have no warrant for thinking that this was merely an act of policy on David's part to obtain the throne. It would be far nearer the truth to say that recognizing his position as the anointed of God he was burning determination with him to rid his people of their foes, and to enlarge his army by enlisting the sympathy of the leaders of the tribe.

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 30

a. Now it happened: It certainly happened, but it didn’t happen by accident. God had a purpose for all of this in David’s life.

“On the third day indicates that David and his men covered about twenty-five miles a day on the march south from Aphek to Ziklag, where they would have arrived tired, hungry and expecting all the comforts for a welcome home.” (Baldwin)

The Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it to the ground: While David and his men were to the north trying to join the Philistine army, their own city of Ziklag was unguarded. The opportunistic Amalekites took advantage of the defenseless city, attacked it and burned it to the ground.

Taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great: Not only was the city burned, but all their women and children were taken away. There is a touch of the Lord’s poetic justice in all this. David brought this exact calamity on other cities. 1 Samuel 27:8-11 says during his time among the Philistines, David made his living as a bandit, robbing cities and whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive. The Amalekites were more merciful than David was.

i. God, who is great in mercy, does not discipline us as much as we deserve. Like a compassionate father He tempers the stroke of His hand with kindness and love.