1 Samuel 30 20

1 Samuel 30:20 kjv

And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

1 Samuel 30:20 nkjv

Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, "This is David's spoil."

1 Samuel 30:20 niv

He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder."

1 Samuel 30:20 esv

David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, "This is David's spoil."

1 Samuel 30:20 nlt

He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. "This plunder belongs to David!" they said.

1 Samuel 30 verses

1 Samuel 30 20 Meaning

First Samuel chapter 30 verse 20 details David's successful recovery and acquisition of extensive plunder after defeating the Amalekites who had raided Ziklag. It states that David took control of all the flocks and herds, which were being driven before him, and publicly declared them to be "David's spoil." This verse signifies a complete reversal of fortune for David and his men, from desolation and loss to overwhelming victory and abundance, publicly claiming ownership and setting the stage for its distribution.

1 Samuel 30 20 Context

First Samuel chapter 30 opens with David and his men returning to Ziklag to find their city burned and their families carried off by the Amalekites. Deeply distressed, David sought the Lord’s counsel through the ephod. God instructed him to pursue the raiding party, assuring him of a complete recovery. David and his men pursued, guided by an abandoned Egyptian slave. They surprised the Amalekites, defeating them comprehensively. Verses 18 and 19 recount the full recovery of all their people and possessions. Verse 20 specifically highlights the additional spoil taken from the Amalekites themselves—their flocks and herds—which symbolized not just recovery but triumph and abundance. This event served as a significant test and validation of David's leadership and his dependence on God, preceding his anointing as king over Judah.

1 Samuel 30 20 Word analysis

• And David took: The Hebrew verb for "took" (וַיִּקַּח - `vayyiqqaḥ`, from לָקַח - `laqach`) signifies active possession and appropriation. It's more than merely recovering what was lost; it's a claim of new bounty obtained through conquest. This act underscores David's authority and success in leading the pursuit and battle.
• all the flocks: The Hebrew term for "flocks" (הַצֹּאן - `hats-tson`) typically refers to sheep and goats. The definite article "the" and the quantifier "all" (כֹּל - `kol`) emphasize the entirety of this animal wealth taken from the Amalekites, suggesting a substantial quantity.
• and the herds: The Hebrew for "herds" (וְהַבָּקָר - `vəha-baqar`) refers to cattle. Like "flocks," "the herds" emphasizes the complete acquisition of this type of livestock, contributing to the vastness of the recovered and newly acquired possessions.
• which they drove before him: The phrase "drove before him" (וַיִּנְהֲגוּ לְפָנָיו - `vayyinhagu ləphanaw`) literally means "they caused to lead before him" or "they led along in front of him." This indicates a procession. It highlights the men under David's command leading the enormous spoils back, a visible display of their victory. It emphasizes the quantity was so large that it had to be herded by his men, and it was done under David’s direct supervision and authority.
• and said: The verb "said" (וַיֹּאמֶר - `vayyō'mer`, from אָמַר - `'amar`) implies a public declaration or proclamation. David is verbally asserting his claim and setting the context for what follows. This isn't a silent action but a deliberate pronouncement.
• This is David's spoil: The Hebrew for "spoil" (שָׁלָל - `shalal`) means plunder or booty taken in war. By declaring "This is David's spoil," David is asserting his personal claim and ultimate authority over these newfound assets. This statement serves to legitimize the plunder under his leadership and to set the terms for its future distribution. It also underscores that the success, and thus the resulting spoils, are directly tied to David's God-given leadership and victory, serving as a material testimony to divine favor.

• "all the flocks and the herds": This phrase highlights the vast and comprehensive nature of the plunder. It indicates not only the recovery of what was lost by Ziklag but also the acquisition of additional wealth from the Amalekites themselves. This speaks to the abundance of God's restoration, which often exceeds the original loss. It symbolizes a bountiful blessing following a time of severe trial.
• "which they drove before him, and said, This is David's spoil": This composite phrase paints a picture of triumph and authority. The driving of the livestock signifies a public parade of victory and an immense scale of wealth. David's subsequent declaration of "David's spoil" is a powerful act of claiming and asserting leadership. It publicly marks this wealth as legitimately obtained under his command, setting a clear precedent for how it will be managed and distributed among his followers, an act that proves crucial in the following verses (1 Sam 30:21-26) for establishing fair rules for sharing the plunder.

1 Samuel 30 20 Bonus section

The act of driving the immense spoils before David not only served as a visible testament to the victory but also physically positioned him as the rightful leader and administrator of this wealth. This significant plunder, combined with the comprehensive rescue, strongly bolstered David’s credibility and reputation, not only among his men but also potentially among the southern Judahite elders to whom he later sent portions of the spoil (1 Sam 30:26-31). This wise act of sharing cultivated strong allegiances, solidifying support for his future kingship in Hebron. This entire episode showcases divine providence ensuring that David, God's anointed, was not merely restored but empowered and equipped abundantly for his destined role, standing in stark contrast to Saul's struggles with obedience concerning spoil (1 Sam 15).

1 Samuel 30 20 Commentary

1 Samuel 30:20 captures the climactic moment of triumph and reversal in David's crisis at Ziklag. Having endured immense personal and communal grief, pursued his enemies with divine direction, and executed a swift victory, David now consolidates the material evidence of God's favor. The verse emphasizes the vastness of the captured spoil—"all the flocks and the herds"—indicating not just the recovery of what was lost but an overflow of new wealth taken from the defeated Amalekites. David's public declaration, "This is David's spoil," is a statement of authoritative claim and gratitude, acknowledging the material blessings acquired through his leadership and God's intervention. This scene serves as a powerful foreshadowing of David's future kingship, showcasing his strategic competence, unwavering trust in God amidst adversity, and the foundation of his just governance, preparing the way for his ascension by establishing principles of spoil distribution that demonstrated wisdom and fairness.