1 Samuel 30 17

1 Samuel 30:17 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 30:17 nkjv

Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.

1 Samuel 30:17 niv

David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled.

1 Samuel 30:17 esv

And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled.

1 Samuel 30:17 nlt

David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels.

1 Samuel 30 verses

1 Samuel 30 17 Meaning

This verse vividly portrays the comprehensive and relentless victory of David and his men over the Amalekites. It describes a prolonged military engagement, beginning either at dawn or dusk and continuing until the evening of the following day, resulting in a near-total destruction of the Amalekite force. Only a small contingent of 400 youthful warriors, utilizing camels for rapid movement across the terrain, managed to escape the slaughter, underscoring the overwhelming completeness of David's triumph. This victory served as God's justice against an ancient enemy and brought complete restoration to David and his people.

1 Samuel 30 17 Context

The verse is part of David's response to the Amalekite raid on Ziklag, which occurred while David and his men were away with the Philistine army. Upon returning, they found their city burned, and their wives, sons, and daughters taken captive. This devastating discovery plunged David and his men into deep distress, causing even David's loyal followers to consider stoning him. In this moment of despair, David "strengthened himself in the LORD his God" (1 Sam 30:6). He then inquired of the LORD through Abiathar the priest whether he should pursue the raiders, and the LORD unequivocally affirmed, promising not only a successful pursuit but also complete recovery (1 Sam 30:8).

As they pursued, they providentially encountered an Egyptian slave, left behind by the Amalekites due to illness. This servant, after being revived with food and water, guided David directly to the Amalekite encampment. It was then, empowered by divine guidance and strength, that David executed the swift and devastating counter-attack detailed in 1 Samuel 30:17. This event showcases David's reliance on God, his leadership, and his role in enacting divine justice against the Amalekites, a nation historically marked for destruction by God due to their persistent hostility towards Israel.

1 Samuel 30 17 Word analysis

• And David smote them:

  • David: The central figure, leading his men after seeking divine counsel. His active role here highlights his obedience to God's will and distinguishes him from Saul, who failed to fully destroy the Amalekites (1 Sam 15).
  • smote: Hebrew nakah (נכה). This verb frequently signifies a decisive, often violent, striking or killing blow. In biblical narratives, it is often used for a comprehensive defeat, sometimes implying divine judgment being enacted through human agency. Here, it denotes the thoroughness of the attack and the resulting devastation.
  • them: Refers to the Amalekites, the ancestral enemies of Israel, who had just raided Ziklag and taken captives. This attack is part of God's long-standing judgment against them.

• from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day:

  • from the twilight: Hebrew nesheph (נשף). This word can mean either dawn (early morning) or dusk (late evening). Given the context of the battle continuing until the evening of the next day, an interpretation of nesheph as dawn makes better chronological sense, signifying a continuous pursuit and slaughter over an extended period. It suggests a surprise attack at a vulnerable time for the enemy, potentially while they were reveling after their successful raid.
  • even unto the evening of the next day: This phrase emphasizes the extreme duration and relentless nature of the pursuit and battle. It was not a quick skirmish but a continuous engagement over approximately 24 to 36 hours. This signifies the utter determination and exhaustion of David's forces in ensuring the Amalekites' near-total destruction and the full recovery of their people and possessions.

• and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels and fled:

  • escaped not a man of them: This hyperbolical expression underlines the overwhelming victory and the vast number of Amalekites who were slain. It emphasizes the near-total annihilation of the raiding force, reflecting the completeness of God's judgment and David's obedience.
  • save four hundred young men: This specific detail highlights the limited escape and the characteristics of those who managed to flee.
  • young men: Hebrew na'ar (נער). This term often refers to a youth or a strong, active individual fit for combat or rapid movement. It indicates that only the most robust, swift, and unburdened members of the Amalekite force could make a getaway.
  • which rode upon camels and fled: Camels were crucial for long-distance travel and speed across desert terrains. The fact that their escape relied on camels points to their pre-existing preparation for flight or their ability to quickly commandeer suitable transport, indicating desperation and the effectiveness of David's pursuit that allowed only such mobile individuals to escape. This detail also implicitly highlights the difficulty of pursuing such quick, mobile enemies across the vast desert landscape.

1 Samuel 30 17 Bonus section

The thoroughness of David's victory here stands in stark contrast to King Saul's disobedience regarding the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15. Saul had spared Agag and the best of the plunder, leading to God's rejection of him as king. David, on the other hand, in a time when he himself was suffering greatly and at risk of being stoned, pursued and annihilated the Amalekites to an extraordinary degree, reclaiming everything they had taken. This highlights David's spiritual sensitivity and willingness to obey God's command regarding this ancient enemy, even without explicit direct instruction for their utter destruction at this particular moment, thus acting in accordance with the long-term divine decree. It showcases the difference between a self-serving kingship and one submitted to the divine mandate. The 400 young men on camels foreshadow that remnants of such persistent enemies can survive, yet the victory for God's people is undeniable and glorious.

1 Samuel 30 17 Commentary

1 Samuel 30:17 vividly portrays David's decisive victory over the Amalekites, underscoring both his commitment to God's commands and God's powerful restoration. After finding Ziklag destroyed and his family taken, David, strengthening himself in the Lord, pursued the Amalekites according to God's specific direction. The battle was a sustained and ferocious engagement, stretching from dawn/dusk of one day to the evening of the next. This extraordinary duration reflects David's unyielding determination to recover all that was lost and to execute God's long-standing judgment against the Amalekites, who had attacked Israel from its wilderness journey onwards. The near-total obliteration of the Amalekite force, with only a small number escaping on camels, testifies to the overwhelming success of David's counter-attack. This comprehensive victory, following Saul's earlier failure to utterly destroy the Amalekites, further solidified David's position as a man after God's own heart, aligning him with divine will and demonstrating his fitness for the coming kingship.