1 Samuel 30 5

1 Samuel 30:5 kjv

And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

1 Samuel 30:5 nkjv

And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.

1 Samuel 30:5 niv

David's two wives had been captured?Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

1 Samuel 30:5 esv

David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

1 Samuel 30:5 nlt

David's two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured.

1 Samuel 30 verses

1 Samuel 30 5 Meaning

This verse succinctly identifies the personal toll of the Amalekite raid on David, stating that his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite, were among those taken captive when Ziklag was burned. It underscores David's specific and profound personal loss within the broader devastation experienced by his men.

1 Samuel 30 5 Context

Chapter 30 of 1 Samuel depicts David and his men's return to Ziklag after being dismissed by the Philistine lords from accompanying them in battle against Israel. They find their city burnt to ashes and their wives, sons, and daughters taken captive by the Amalekites. This devastating discovery leads to overwhelming grief among David and his men. Verse 5 specifically pinpoints David's personal loss, identifying his two wives among the captives. This deeply personal tragedy sets the stage for David's subsequent actions of seeking the Lord's guidance and pursuing the Amalekites, ultimately demonstrating his leadership and trust in God despite immense distress. The immediate historical context involves David acting as a Philistine vassal while maintaining a degree of independence, highlighting the complexities and dangers of his position prior to becoming king.

1 Samuel 30 5 Word analysis

• And David's two wives: This immediately brings David's personal sphere into focus. "Two wives" indicates polygamy, a practice common and permitted, though regulated, in the Old Testament, but not God’s original design (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:4-6). For a leader like David, such personal loss could severely undermine his authority if not handled with faith.
• were carried away captive: The Hebrew verb is shavah (שָׁבָה), meaning "to take captive," "to lead away as prisoners," or "to carry into exile." This action was a brutal but common aspect of ancient warfare, signifying utter defeat and stripping away personal freedom and family security. It highlights the vulnerability of Ziklag in David's absence. This emphasizes their utter helplessness and the barbaric nature of the Amalekite raid.
• Ahinoam the Jezreelitess: The first wife mentioned, providing a precise identity. She was acquired by David after Michal, Saul's daughter, was taken from him (1 Sam 25:43). Her origin "Jezreelitess" (from Jezreel) gives her geographical context. Her capture highlights the specific human dimension of the crisis for David.
• and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite: The second wife specified. Her former status as "the wife of Nabal the Carmelite" recalls her dramatic backstory (1 Sam 25) where she was instrumental in preventing David from rashly retaliating against Nabal and was subsequently taken as David's wife after Nabal's death. "Carmelite" also points to her geographical origin in Carmel. Naming her explicitly underlines her unique place among David's wives due to her wisdom and previous significant interaction with him.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And David's two wives were carried away captive": This phrase emphasizes the devastating impact on David personally. Unlike the general mention of "wives and sons and daughters" in earlier verses (1 Sam 30:3), this is a specific naming of David's own family members, highlighting the immediacy and depth of his suffering. It sets the scene for his own leadership response, not just as a commander but as a husband and father grieving immense loss. The passive voice "were carried away captive" further stresses their helplessness in the situation.
• "Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite": The specific naming of David’s wives personalizes the tragedy. It brings historical depth by referencing their specific origins, reminding the reader of David’s earlier life and alliances. It emphasizes the extent of the disaster—no one, not even the wives of the leader, was spared from the raiders' cruel intentions. This loss, occurring on the cusp of David's kingship, serves as a powerful test of his faith and dependence on the Lord.

1 Samuel 30 5 Bonus section

This specific loss of wives can be seen as a fulfillment, in part, of the ancient prophetic declarations against the Amalekites. The Lord had vowed perpetual war against Amalek (Exod 17:16) and commanded Israel to "blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" (Deut 25:19). David's pursuit and utter defeat of the Amalekites in the subsequent verses (1 Sam 30:17-20), following this personal tragedy, become a significant step in enacting God's judgment upon this persistently hostile nation. This verse, therefore, while detailing a personal grief, contributes to a larger theological theme of divine justice and Israel's mission against a relentless enemy. The event serves as a practical, human experience illustrating how even the deepest personal suffering can be intertwined with God's overarching plan and purpose.

1 Samuel 30 5 Commentary

First Samuel 30:5 acts as a pivotal moment in the narrative of David, intensely personalizing the tragedy of Ziklag. While 1 Sam 30:3-4 portray the collective despair of David and his men, verse 5 drills down into David's unique suffering by explicitly naming his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, among the captives. This specificity elevates David’s personal anguish, making it clear that the loss was not merely theoretical or distant but a profound, direct blow to his own household. This tragic circumstance serves as a crucible for David’s leadership, driving him to the depths of despair, where "he and the people with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep" (1 Sam 30:4).

More critically, this verse precedes David's remarkable display of faith and resilience: "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Sam 30:6). The immense personal loss outlined in verse 5 provides the essential background for appreciating David’s spiritual fortitude. It underscores that his subsequent actions were not from a place of easy confidence but from profound personal agony and divine strengthening. This period of great tribulation also serves to further isolate David, as his men spoke of stoning him. This crisis prepares David for his future kingship by testing his reliance on God alone and demonstrating his ability to rise above extreme adversity through faith. The detailed mention of Ahinoam and Abigail also subtly highlights the pervasive insecurity of the time and the harsh realities faced by all, even those closely associated with powerful figures like David.