1 Samuel 30 14

1 Samuel 30:14 kjv

We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

1 Samuel 30:14 nkjv

We made an invasion of the southern area of the Cherethites, in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire."

1 Samuel 30:14 niv

We raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag."

1 Samuel 30:14 esv

We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire."

1 Samuel 30:14 nlt

We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag."

1 Samuel 30 verses

1 Samuel 30 14 Meaning

1 Samuel 30:14 recounts the precise confession of the Amalekite servant to David, detailing the comprehensive and widespread nature of the Amalekite raid. The Amalekites invaded and plundered the southern regions inhabited by the Cherethites and the areas belonging to Judah, specifically mentioning the southern territory of Caleb. The report culminates with their destruction of Ziklag by fire, the very town David and his men had established as their base. This declaration serves as crucial intelligence, identifying the perpetrators and the extent of their destructive actions, setting the stage for David's retaliatory pursuit.

1 Samuel 30 14 Context

This verse is pivotal within 1 Samuel chapter 30. David, along with his men, returns to Ziklag after being dismissed from fighting with the Philistine armies (1 Sam 29). Upon their return, they discover Ziklag utterly ravaged—burned to the ground, and their wives and children taken captive. The shock and distress are immense, bringing David and his seasoned warriors to tears (1 Sam 30:4). Faced with the desperate situation, David seeks counsel from God (1 Sam 30:7-8). As they pursue the raiders, they providentially encounter a sick Egyptian slave, abandoned by his Amalekite master. This verse, 1 Samuel 30:14, forms part of this slave's crucial testimony. He provides specific details about the raiders' identity (Amalekites) and the widespread nature of their attack, offering David the precise intelligence needed to confirm his suspicions, locate the enemy, and plan his retaliatory strike. This intelligence is a clear demonstration of divine providence aiding David in his hour of need.

1 Samuel 30 14 Word analysis

• We made an invasion: The Hebrew word is פָּשַׁט (pāshaṭ), meaning to spread out, raid, strip, or lay bare. It indicates not just an attack but a plundering, destructive, and comprehensive overrunning of a territory. It signifies the complete overwhelming of a place.
• upon the south: The Hebrew word is נֶגֶב (negev), which refers to the dry, southern region of Judah and a specific geographic area rather than just a directional south. It signifies a vulnerable frontier zone that was frequently targeted by raiders.
• of the Cherethites: Hebrew כְּרֵתִי (Kerētî). These were likely a group associated with the Philistines, possibly originating from Crete (Caphtor, a major Philistine connection, see Amos 9:7). They were known warriors, sometimes serving as elite foreign mercenaries, including in David's own guard (the Cherethites and Pelethites). Raiding their territory indicates the boldness and widespread nature of the Amalekite attack.
• and upon the coast: Refers to a bordering area or a specific territory's outer reach. This signifies their extensive reach, striking deep into areas considered allied or even controlled by Judah.
• which belongeth to Judah: This phrase clearly identifies the raided land as within the tribal territory of Judah, emphasizing that the Amalekites were not merely hitting peripheral, unsettled regions but organized tribal lands of Israel.
• and upon the south of Caleb: Hebrew נֶגֶב כָּלֵב (Negev Caleb). This refers to the specific territory inherited by Caleb in the southern part of Judah, specifically near Hebron and its surroundings (Josh 14:13-14, 15:13-19). This detail confirms the depth and precision of the Amalekites' raid into Judah proper, highlighting the personal violation of one of Israel's most honored patriarchs' assigned land.
• and we burned Ziklag with fire: The Hebrew phrase שׂרף באש (śārap ba'ēš) signifies complete and utter destruction by incineration. Ziklag (צִקְלַג, Ṣiqelaḡ) was a Philistine city given to David by Achish, King of Gath, and served as his temporary base during his exile from Saul (1 Sam 27:6-7). Its destruction was a direct blow to David and his community. This detail connects the slave's report directly to David's personal loss, validating his distress and confirming the target of the main raid.
• We made an invasion upon... Judah, and upon... Caleb, and we burned Ziklag: This cluster of phrases vividly describes the wide geographical scope of the Amalekite attack, encompassing various southern territories linked to Judah, culminating in the complete destruction of David's own town. It emphasizes the ruthlessness and the strategic reach of the Amalekite marauders, demonstrating their boldness in assaulting settled and acknowledged territories, not just nomadic fringes. The shift from general raids to the specific burning of Ziklag underscores the significance of this particular act within the broader context of their plundering campaign.

1 Samuel 30 14 Bonus section

The precise geographical details given by the Amalekite slave ("south of the Cherethites," "coast which belongeth to Judah," "south of Caleb") reveal the extensive range of their operations, stretching across several vulnerable areas. The Cherethites are frequently linked with the Pelethites as David's loyal guard (2 Sam 8:18; 15:18; 20:7), indicating David might have passed through or operated near these regions himself. The term "south" (negev) isn't just a cardinal direction but points to the semi-arid region that bordered Judah to the south and often served as a corridor for raiding nomadic groups. The specific mention of "south of Caleb" connects this raid to one of Israel's revered figures, implying an attack on historically significant and well-defined Israelite land. The finding of this abandoned Egyptian slave, left to die, reflects the ruthlessness and opportunistic nature of the Amalekites, but ironically, his abandonment by his cruel masters becomes the very means of their downfall through God's providence.

1 Samuel 30 14 Commentary

1 Samuel 30:14 serves as critical forensic evidence within the narrative, revealing the Amalekite slave's knowledge of his masters' wide-ranging and destructive actions. It is a precise confession that verifies the identity of the raiders as the Amalekites, a long-standing, generational enemy of Israel whose persistent aggression exemplifies the biblical theme of spiritual opposition. The detailed account of the territories ravaged—the south of the Cherethites, areas belonging to Judah, and specifically the territory of Caleb—illustrates the extensive and aggressive nature of their incursion. This was no minor skirmish but a deep, destructive strike into settled areas of Judah. The concluding confirmation, "we burned Ziklag with fire," directly explains the catastrophe that awaited David and his men. The verse is vital for two reasons: it authenticates the Amalekite's story, allowing David to fully trust the intelligence, and it highlights God's hand in orchestrating the precise, timely, and specific information David needed to recover everything. This providential disclosure is what empowers David's subsequent successful pursuit and total recovery, turning his deepest distress into a monumental victory.