1 Samuel 30 13

1 Samuel 30:13 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 30:13 nkjv

Then David said to him, "To whom do you belong, and where are you from?" And he said, "I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick.

1 Samuel 30:13 niv

David asked him, "Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?" He said, "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago.

1 Samuel 30:13 esv

And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.

1 Samuel 30:13 nlt

"To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?" David asked him. "I am an Egyptian ? the slave of an Amalekite," he replied. "My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick.

1 Samuel 30 verses

1 Samuel 30 13 Meaning

1 Samuel 30:13 describes a crucial exchange between David and a desperately ill Egyptian servant discovered in the field. David, in his pursuit of the Amalekite raiders, interrogates the abandoned man about his identity and origin. The servant reveals he is an Egyptian, formerly enslaved by an Amalekite, who was callously left behind because he fell sick three days prior. This information proves invaluable, pinpointing the identity of the enemy and the approximate timeframe of their movements, setting the stage for David's successful recovery operation.

1 Samuel 30 13 Context

The immediate context of 1 Samuel 30 is David's return to Ziklag with his men after being dismissed by the Philistine lords from accompanying them to battle against Israel. Upon their return, they find Ziklag utterly desolated, burned to the ground, and their wives, sons, and daughters captured by the Amalekites (1 Sam 30:1-2). This catastrophic loss causes deep distress among David and his men, leading them to weep bitterly. David himself is in great anguish, as his men even contemplate stoning him (1 Sam 30:4-6).

In this dire moment, David strengthens himself in the Lord his God and seeks divine guidance through Abiathar the priest and the ephod (1 Sam 30:7-8). God mercifully responds, instructing David to pursue the raiders, assuring him that he will indeed overtake them and recover all. As David and his 600 men pursue the Amalekites, a portion of his men are too exhausted to cross the brook Besor, leaving David with 400 men to continue the chase (1 Sam 30:9-10). It is at this critical juncture, while fatigued and needing intelligence, that they encounter the abandoned Egyptian slave in the open field (1 Sam 30:11). David's act of compassion in reviving the slave with food and water leads directly to the interrogation in verse 13, which is key to locating the Amalekite encampment. The historical context includes the long-standing enmity between Israel and the Amalekites, dating back to the Exodus, portraying the Amalekites as a persistent, cruel foe.

1 Samuel 30 13 Word analysis

• And David said to him: This marks David's initiative in gathering crucial intelligence. It highlights his active, compassionate leadership, first extending aid (as per the preceding verses), and then seeking information. David's inquiry isn't merely curiosity but a strategic move borne out of his pressing need for intel regarding his captured family and Ziklag.
• 'Whose are you?': (Hebrew: lemi 'attah - לְמִי אַתָּה). This interrogative seeks to establish ownership or allegiance. In ancient societies, identity was often defined by belonging to a family, tribe, or master. David is determining if the man is an independent individual, a mercenary, or, as it turns out, a possession of someone involved in the raid. This question cuts to the core of one's legal and social status.
• 'And from where are you?': (Hebrew: ume'ayin 'attah - וּמֵאַיִן אַתָּה). This question ascertains geographical origin and nationality. This is critical for David, as the raiders were an unknown enemy. Knowing the man's place of origin could hint at the identity of his former master and their background, distinguishing between friend and foe. The combination of "whose" and "where from" shows David's thoroughness in seeking information, not just accepting a superficial answer.
• He said, 'I am a young man of Egypt,': (Hebrew: na'ar Mitsri - נַעַר מִצְרִי). "Young man" (na'ar) implies a person of youth and generally a lower social standing or subservient position. Being "of Egypt" (Mitsri) establishes his national identity as an outsider to the region and likely a non-combatant by origin, but also that Egypt was known for its slaves, particularly young men who were conscripted or captured.
• 'a servant of an Amalekite;': (Hebrew: 'eved liysh 'Amaleqi - עֶבֶד לְאִישׁ עֲמָלֵקִי). This is the pivotal piece of information. "Servant" ('eved) here unequivocally means a slave. This reveals the specific identity of the enemy – Amalekites, the ancestral foes of Israel, against whom God had commanded perpetual war. It is highly significant as it connects David's plight directly to Israel's divinely mandated conflict. This revelation validates the urgency and righteousness of David's pursuit.
• 'and my master left me behind,': (Hebrew: vayya'azveniy 'adōniy - וַיַּעַזְבֵנִי אֲדֹנִי). The verb "left me behind" ('azavani) carries the sense of abandonment or forsaking. This starkly contrasts the Amalekite master's cruelty and expediency with David's prior compassion (1 Sam 30:11-12) and illustrates the merciless character of the Amalekites. Such an act of leaving a slave to die on account of illness was a severe dehumanization and disregard for life, even by ancient standards.
• 'for I fell sick three days ago.': (Hebrew: kīy chālîtîy hayyōm shlōshat - כִּי חָלִיתִי הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשֶׁת). This provides crucial temporal detail. "Three days ago" pinpoints the exact timeframe of the Amalekite raid on Ziklag, as Ziklag had been attacked three days before David returned (1 Sam 30:1). This synchronicity assures David that the servant was indeed part of the group that raided his home and gives him confidence about the distance the raiders might have traveled. This seemingly small detail is vital for successful strategic planning, allowing David to gauge how far the Amalekites would be and confirming that this abandoned servant holds real, actionable intelligence.

1 Samuel 30 13 Bonus Section

The "three days ago" is a very specific time marker that reveals two significant things for David:

1. Timing of the Raid: It confirms that the servant was with the very band of Amalekites who plundered Ziklag, aligning the information directly with David's current crisis.
2. Feasibility of Pursuit: It provides a realistic timeframe for how far the Amalekites would have traveled, making pursuit seem more feasible. It suggests the Amalekites likely haven't traveled so far as to be unreachable. This immediate intelligence allowed David to press on without further delay.

This encounter underscores the contrast between the world's ways (cruelty, abandonment of the weak) and the way of God's chosen (compassion, care for strangers and even slaves, leading to revelation and salvation). The Amalekite master represents a persistent pattern of evil that shows no mercy, while David exemplifies a burgeoning Christ-like leadership rooted in seeking the Lord and showing care even for the least likely sources of help. God chose the discarded and "sick" one to reveal the way to restoration.

1 Samuel 30 13 Commentary

1 Samuel 30:13 serves as the linchpin of David's recovery mission, demonstrating divine providence intersecting with human wisdom and compassion. The discovery of the abandoned Egyptian, seemingly a chance encounter, is a testament to God's hand guiding David in his hour of deepest distress. David's meticulous inquiry—asking about identity ("Whose are you?") and origin ("From where are you?")—shows a leader not consumed by emotion but diligently seeking understanding. This intelligent interrogation contrasts sharply with Saul's impulsive decisions, highlighting David's strategic foresight and dependence on actionable intelligence.

The servant's candid reply reveals the cruel nature of the Amalekites, consistent with their biblical portrayal as merciless enemies (Ex 17, 1 Sam 15). They readily abandoned one of their own slaves to die simply because he was sick, an act that underscores their inhumanity and provides a moral justification for the impending swift judgment against them. The detail of "three days ago" is critical; it precisely aligns with the time David discovered Ziklag burned, giving him a perfect temporal marker for his pursuit and the approximate location of the Amalekite band.

Ultimately, this verse illustrates that God often uses unexpected people and circumstances to accomplish His will. A dying, abandoned slave becomes God's instrument to lead His anointed king to victory, turning a moment of utter despair for David into triumph and complete restoration. It is a powerful reminder that compassion for the vulnerable, like David showing kindness to the slave (v. 11-12), can open doors to divine insight and provision.