1 Samuel 30 16

1 Samuel 30:16 kjv

And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

1 Samuel 30:16 nkjv

And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

1 Samuel 30:16 niv

He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.

1 Samuel 30:16 esv

And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

1 Samuel 30:16 nlt

So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah.

1 Samuel 30 verses

1 Samuel 30 16 Meaning

The verse describes the Amalekites found by David and his men. They were scattered across the land, engrossed in eating, drinking, and dancing, celebrating the vast plunder they had taken from the Philistine territory and the land of Judah. This scene depicts their state of complacency and revelry, completely unaware of the impending swift justice about to befall them from David.

1 Samuel 30 16 Context

Chapter 30 of 1 Samuel narrates David's lowest point and subsequent divine intervention and victory. While David and his men were allied with the Philistines, the Amalekites raided their hometown of Ziklag, burned it, and carried away their wives and children. This brought David and his men to utter despair. After seeking God's will through the ephod, David was assured of success in pursuit. Guided by an Egyptian slave whom they found abandoned in the field, David located the Amalekites. Verse 16 describes the scene David encountered, highlighting the Amalekites' careless state due to their celebration of their recent plunder. This complacency set the stage for David's decisive attack and victory, leading to the full recovery of all that was lost and more. Historically, the Amalekites were ancient nomadic adversaries of Israel, known for their attacks on the weak and stragglers (Deut 25:17-18). God had commanded their utter destruction (Exod 17:14; 1 Sam 15:3), a command partially fulfilled by Saul, but now David brings further judgment upon them. The feasting and revelry could also be interpreted as a pagan celebratory ritual, common among ancient Near Eastern peoples after a successful campaign, marking their self-reliance and disregard for the God of Israel.

1 Samuel 30 16 Word analysis

• When he had brought him down: This refers to David bringing the Egyptian servant who was near death due to abandonment, enabling him to eat and revive. This act of compassion indirectly led David to the Amalekites' camp. The servant acts as God's instrument in guiding David.
• there they were, spread out over all the land:
  • spread out (נְטוּשִׁים - netushim): Literally means "abandoned, cast away, scattered." This suggests a complete lack of military formation, guard, or watch. They were disbursed, making them an easy target. This is antithetical to a disciplined army's conduct.
• eating and drinking and dancing:
  • eating (אֹכְלִים - okelīm), drinking (שֹׁתִים - shotīm), dancing (חֹגְגִים - chogegim): This triple repetition emphasizes the depth of their revelry and self-indulgence. "Dancing" (חֹגְגִים - chogegim) is related to a festival or solemn feast (chag), implying a major celebratory event. Such festivities, often associated with pagan rites or excessive worldly pleasure, reflected their misplaced security and lack of awareness of divine consequence. This uninhibited self-indulgence makes them vulnerable.
• because of all the great spoil:
  • spoil (שָׁלָל - shālāl): Refers to plunder, loot. It was the material gain from their violent raids. This "spoil" was the sole basis for their unbridled joy. Their celebration was rooted purely in material accumulation rather than spiritual truth or a just cause.
• that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah: This indicates the Amalekites' widespread aggression. Their targets included both Israel's enemies (Philistines, whom David had recently served) and Israel itself (Judah). This broad predatory behavior underscored their wickedness and the justice of their impending judgment. It also shows the extent of their recent success, feeding their false confidence.

1 Samuel 30 16 Bonus section

The revelry of the Amalekites is contrasted sharply with David's posture of humility and desperate seeking of God in the preceding verses. While David cried out to God, strengthened himself in the Lord, and waited for divine direction, the Amalekites engaged in hedonistic abandon. This juxtaposition underscores a crucial spiritual principle: true security and victory come through dependence on God, not through reliance on temporary material gains or a false sense of invincibility. The very success that bred the Amalekites' complacency became the catalyst for their destruction. Their celebratory feast ironically became their funeral feast, serving as an instrument of divine retribution for their historic and recent offenses against God's people.

1 Samuel 30 16 Commentary

This verse serves as a powerful illustration of the complacency that often precedes judgment. The Amalekites, a long-standing enemy of Israel chosen for divine reckoning, are found in a state of utter disregard for any threat. Their joy is derived solely from their material gains – the "great spoil" – fostering a false sense of security that blinds them to the reality of David's vengeful pursuit. Their widespread dispersion and unrestrained feasting, a display of unholy revelry, rendered them militarily unprepared and spiritually insensible. This highlights the danger of excessive self-indulgence and the pursuit of worldly pleasures, which can lead to spiritual slumber and eventual downfall. The scene also underscores divine providence, where the Amalekites' very celebration, fueled by their wicked actions, leads to their vulnerability and ultimate destruction, bringing about David's unexpected victory and the recovery of all that was lost. It is a stark reminder that worldly triumph can quickly turn to calamity for those living outside God's will.