1 Samuel 30 2

1 Samuel 30:2 kjv

And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

1 Samuel 30:2 nkjv

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.

1 Samuel 30:2 niv

and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

1 Samuel 30:2 esv

and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way.

1 Samuel 30:2 nlt

They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.

1 Samuel 30 verses

1 Samuel 30 2 Meaning

The verse describes the specific nature of the Amalekite raid on Ziklag: they captured all the inhabitants, regardless of age or status ("small and great"), but crucially, they did not kill anyone. Their intent was to take captives and spoil rather than to totally annihilate the population.

1 Samuel 30 2 Context

Chapter 30 of 1 Samuel finds David and his men returning to their Philistine city, Ziklag, after being dismissed from fighting alongside the Philistines against Israel. Upon arrival, they discover Ziklag has been burned to the ground and their wives, sons, and daughters taken captive by the Amalekites. This devastating scene, immediately preceding this verse, plunges David and his men into deep distress, weeping until they could weep no more (1 Sam 30:3-4). The verse itself details the exact nature of the Amalekite attack: a raid for spoil and slaves, not a mission of annihilation. Historically, Ziklag was David's temporary residence while he was fleeing King Saul, making him technically a vassal of Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe frequently raiding settled areas, often ruthless. This specific detail of not killing the captives proves crucial for the narrative's resolution and demonstrates God's sovereign hand, even amidst chaos and tragedy.

1 Samuel 30 2 Word analysis

• "and had carried away captive": The Hebrew verb is shaba (שָׁבָה), meaning "to take captive," "to lead away as prisoners." This immediately defines the primary action of the Amalekites: not conquest or total destruction, but abduction. This form implies a completed action in the past.
• "the women therein": Ha'nashim (הַנָּשִׁים). The definite article "the" indicates specific women, those belonging to David and his men. In ancient warfare, women were valuable as slaves, concubines, or for ransom, often distinguishing this type of raid from a battle of annihilation.
• "and all that were there": This phrase (wěkol 'asher-shām - וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁם) indicates absolute inclusivity. It's not just the prominent or able-bodied, but everyone.
• "both small and great": Miqqāṭān wěʿad-gāḏôl (מִקָּטָן וְעַד־גָּדוֹל). This is a merism, a figure of speech where two contrasting parts represent the whole. It signifies that every single person, from the youngest infant to the oldest adult, regardless of social standing, was taken. It underscores the complete emptiness of the city and the comprehensiveness of the captivity.
• "they slew not any": Lōʾ hēmîṯū ʾîš (לֹא הֵמִיתוּ אִישׁ). This is the pivotal detail of the verse. Lōʾ is "not," hēmîṯū is from mût (מוּת) "to die," in the Hiphil causation form "to cause to die" or "to kill." ʾîš (אִישׁ) means "man" or "person." This direct negation confirms no one was killed. This is highly unusual for a major raid in that era, as often all adult males would be killed, and sometimes children, or they might face execution if they resisted capture. It shows a specific intent to take live captives for economic reasons (sale, ransom) rather than retribution or total elimination.
• "but carried them away": Kî nāśāʾû (כִּי נָשָׂאוּ). Kî is "for" or "but," connecting this as an explanatory clause or a contrast. Nāśāʾû from nāśāʾ (נָשָׂא) means "to lift, carry, bear." This reiterates the action of removal rather than destruction, providing clarity on the fate of the inhabitants.
• "and went on their way": Wayyiṯhallĕḵū lěḏarkām (וַיִּתְהַלְּכוּ לְדַרְכָּם). Yithhallĕḵū means "they walked away," or "they went." This final phrase paints a picture of the Amalekites' departure, consolidating their spoil and leaving Ziklag utterly desolate, setting the stage for David's distress and subsequent pursuit. It concludes their action and establishes their absence.

• Words-group: "carried away captive the women therein, and all that were there, both small and great": This phrase emphasizes the full scope of the disaster. The inclusion of "women" (often primary targets for plunder/enslavement) followed by the absolute "all that were there" and the encompassing merism "small and great" paints a picture of a thorough and comprehensive emptying of the city of its people. The value of human lives, even in ancient slave markets, made them a key component of plunder alongside goods.
• Words-group: "they slew not any, but carried them away": This pairing directly contrasts common military practice with the Amalekites' actions here. The preservation of life is the critical point. It highlights that the objective was not genocide but economic gain through enslavement or ransom. This specific detail sets the stage for David's hope and his subsequent ability to recover all the captives (1 Sam 30:8, 19). It also hints at a divine intervention, however subtle, in the unfolding tragedy, ensuring a path to restoration.

1 Samuel 30 2 Bonus section

• The detail of "not slaying any" (1 Sam 30:2) stands in stark contrast to God's own command to Saul regarding the Amalekites in 1 Sam 15:3, where they were to be utterly destroyed, "both man and woman, child and infant." This disparity underscores the Amalekites' lack of faithfulness to the divine will or even common warfare ethics (though harsh) which sometimes included total annihilation. It's a key narrative element, facilitating recovery rather than leaving an unrecoverable loss.
• The sparing of life is often seen as a specific instance of God's 'restraining hand' or providential intervention, a "common grace" allowing a path to resolution, and thus strengthening David's faith.
• This verse provides context for David's intense prayer and consultation of the ephod in 1 Sam 30:8; without the assurance that lives were spared, his hope for recovery would be significantly diminished.

1 Samuel 30 2 Commentary

1 Samuel 30:2 describes the precise manner of the Amalekite raid on Ziklag, which spared the lives of all the inhabitants. While they devastated the city by fire, their primary motive was the acquisition of captives for economic purposes rather than total slaughter. This unexpected mercy by the Amalekites—who were typically ruthless and known for striking down the weak and weary (Dt 25:17-18)—is a crucial detail. It indicates God's hand in preserving the lives of David's family and the families of his men. Had they been killed, the entire trajectory of David's life, his anointing, and his future kingdom would have been plunged into a far deeper, possibly irreversible, crisis of grief and despair, removing any object of pursuit. The fact that the Amalekites took everyone, "both small and great," confirms the thoroughness of the abduction, yet their choice to leave no one dead directly enabled David's later recovery of "all" that had been taken (1 Sam 30:19). This incident therefore highlights God's providential care even in moments of profound tribulation and loss, setting the stage for a dramatic display of divine intervention and David's faithful leadership in restoring what was lost.