1 Samuel 30:23 kjv
Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.
1 Samuel 30:23 nkjv
But David said, "My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.
1 Samuel 30:23 niv
David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us.
1 Samuel 30:23 esv
But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.
1 Samuel 30:23 nlt
But David said, "No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us.
1 Samuel 30 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 31:27 | Divide the spoil into two parts, between those who carried on the war...and all the congregation. | Moses' spoil distribution, 50/50 principle. |
| Deut 20:14 | ...you may consume the spoil of it for yourselves, which the Lord your God has given you. | God grants spoil as provision. |
| Josh 22:8 | "Return with much wealth... and divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers." | Encouragement to share victory's benefits. |
| Ps 3:8 | Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! | All deliverance from God. |
| Ps 44:6-7 | For not by my bow do I triumph, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us... | God, not human might, brings victory. |
| Ps 68:12 | The kings of the armies flee, they flee! The women at home divide the spoil. | Recognition of indirect beneficiaries. |
| Prov 3:27 | Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. | Principle of generosity and fairness. |
| Isa 42:8 | I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I will not give to another. | God receives full credit for success. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. | Divine power ensures triumph. |
| Matt 5:7 | "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." | Compassion for the weary/weak. |
| Matt 25:40 | "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." | Care for the vulnerable and marginalized. |
| Rom 12:10 | Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. | Upholding brotherly love and respect. |
| Rom 15:1 | We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak. | Responsibility of the strong to help the weak. |
| 1 Cor 9:11 | If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? | Mutual benefit in partnership. |
| 1 Cor 12:26 | If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. | Body of Christ; shared burden and reward. |
| Gal 6:2 | Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. | Encouragement for mutual support. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Humility and valuing others. |
| Phil 4:14-16 | You did well to share with me in my affliction. | Partnership in ministry. |
| Heb 13:16 | Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. | Importance of sharing resources. |
| James 2:13 | For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. | Promoting mercy and fair judgment. |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. | Stewarding resources for others' benefit. |
| Ezra 8:23 | So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to us. | Divine protection as a result of prayer. |
1 Samuel 30 verses
1 Samuel 30 23 Meaning
David's declaration in 1 Samuel 30:23 firmly establishes a divine principle of spoil distribution. It corrects the selfish inclination of some of his men by emphasizing that victory, protection, and provision originate solely from the Lord. It mandates a shared reward for all who participate, directly or indirectly, in a divine undertaking, ensuring that those who supported the effort from the rear are treated equally with those who engaged in battle. This ruling underscores communal responsibility, generosity, and the recognition of God as the ultimate source of all blessings and triumph.
1 Samuel 30 23 Context
Chapter 30 of 1 Samuel narrates one of the lowest points for David and his men, followed by a dramatic turn. While David and his army were with the Philistines at Aphek (summoned by Achish, though later dismissed), the Amalekites raided Ziklag, David's home base. They burned the city and took all the women and children captive, including David's two wives. David and his men returned to find their homes destroyed and their families gone, leading to deep distress, with the men even considering stoning David.
After seeking the Lord's guidance through the ephod, David pursued the Amalekites. During their pursuit, 200 of his 600 men, exhausted by the arduous journey, stayed behind at the brook Besor, unable to continue. The remaining 400 pursued, attacked, and miraculously recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, securing a great spoil.
Upon returning to the brook Besor, a dispute arose among the men. Some of the "worthless fellows" (v. 22) who had fought insisted that the 200 men who stayed behind should not receive any of the recovered spoil, only their families. It is in response to this narrow-minded and selfish contention that David makes his ruling in verse 23, establishing a lasting principle of generosity, unity, and attributing all success to God's hand.
1 Samuel 30 23 Word analysis
- But David said: This indicates a strong counter-argument to the previous contentious voices. It highlights David's decisive leadership, speaking with divine wisdom.
- You shall not do so: This is a direct command, an emphatic prohibition against the selfish proposal. It carries the weight of a divine decree, as David is acting under God's inspiration.
- my brothers: אַחִים (achim). This term emphasizes a deep bond of kinship and unity. David addresses his men not as mere subordinates but as a family, fostering solidarity and challenging any division. This reinforces the idea of shared blessings and responsibilities within the community.
- with what the Lord has given us: יהוה (YHWH), the covenant name of God. This foundational phrase immediately redirects the focus from human effort or entitlement to divine provision. It strips away any human pride or claim to exclusive ownership of the spoils, acknowledging God as the sole Giver. This establishes a theological basis for the equitable distribution.
- and has preserved us: This points to God's protective hand throughout their perilous journey and battle. It signifies divine watchfulness and guardianship, reminding them that their very lives and ability to fight were from God.
- and has delivered: נָתַן (nathan), implying 'given' or 'delivered'. The use of this verb attributes the victory directly to God. It highlights His active involvement in defeating the enemy and securing the rescue.
- the troop that came against us: This refers to the Amalekite raiders. By mentioning "the troop," it brings back the specific context of their recent trauma and miraculous victory, emphasizing that God's intervention was against a formidable foe.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "But David said, 'You shall not do so, my brothers": This phrase introduces David's authoritative, yet relational, rejection of the unjust proposal. His address as "brothers" underscores the expectation of mutual care within the community, overriding selfish impulses.
- "with what the Lord has given us and has preserved us and has delivered": This triplet of verbs ("given," "preserved," "delivered") forms a powerful theological statement. It is a comprehensive acknowledgment of God's manifold blessings: initial provision of the spoil, protection of their lives, and active defeat of their enemies. It serves as the unshakeable premise for David's just ruling, emphasizing divine agency over human prowess.
- "the troop that came against us": This final phrase ties God's powerful actions directly to their specific and recent suffering, making the divine intervention personally relevant and undeniable for everyone involved. It underscores the scope of God's work—His complete triumph over the enemy.
1 Samuel 30 23 Bonus section
This incident became an established "statute and an ordinance for Israel from that day forward" (v. 25), indicating its long-term legal and ethical impact on the nation. David's wisdom in this matter, particularly at a moment of deep distress and contention, solidified his standing as a divinely-guided leader before his full anointing as king over all Israel. His actions here echo future principles of sharing within the New Testament Church, where different gifts and roles contribute to the one body of Christ, and all partake in shared blessings. The rule reminds us that our ability to achieve anything, or to gain "spoil," is fundamentally a gift from God's preserving and delivering hand.
1 Samuel 30 23 Commentary
David's ruling in 1 Samuel 30:23 is a profound act of spiritual leadership that established a fundamental principle for Israel: all victories and provisions are gifts from the Lord. It counters the natural human inclination towards greed and exclusive claim based on personal effort in battle. By asserting that those who stayed with the supplies or due to weariness should share equally in the spoils, David demonstrated wisdom, compassion, and an understanding of communal solidarity rooted in God's sovereignty. This equitable distribution ensured unity among his men, prevented division, and uplifted the importance of every individual's contribution to the collective good, even those whose contribution was simply to hold the ground. It was not based on their personal merit, but on God's grace and their part within the community. This act set a precedent for fairness and reliance on God's power rather than human strength or pride.
- Example: A team working on a project; the successful outcome is attributed to the whole team, not just those who did the visible "final sprint," but also those who did essential background research or logistics.
- Example: In a church outreach, everyone's contribution—whether prayer, financial giving, or active service—is equally valued and equally shares in the blessing of lives impacted, as God empowers them all.