”And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the South, and upon Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire”
Recall that in the last chapter we read that David and his men were relieved of active duty because of King Achish’s commanders’ distrust and dread of David. The book of Samuel 30 records what was supposed to be the men’s cheery homecoming.
It was anything but. Three days after they left Ziklag, David and company returned to find their families and livestock gone, dragged off by the Amalekite enemy. Their homes fared no better – smoldering ash heaps. “And had taken captive the women and all that were therein, both small and great; they slew not any, but carried them off, and went their way.” Amalek marauders had a field day.
David and his men, understandably, were inconsolable upon learning that their wives and children were abducted. Among the missing were David’s two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail. “Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.”
Grieving and mourning cascaded into recrimination. ”And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” Composing himself, David summoned Abiathar the priest. “And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech: I pray you, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.”
Abravanel clarifies David’s men’s violent outburst. On what grounds did the men demand David’s head? If they placed blame on David for having left Ziklag, and that David showed gross negligence by so doing, such charges are unsubstantiated. Moreover, David’s own wives suffered the same horrid fate as every other member of the small enclave. And since David played no role (active or passive) in the sacking of Ziklag, David could just as easily have turned the tables on his accusers. He could have demanded their heads. Finally, Abravanel adds more to David’s defense. Namely, it had been King Achish who issued the marching orders to leave Ziklag, compelling David and his men fight on the Philistine’s behalf.
Here’s Abravanel’s approach. To begin with, David’s pluck rings loud and clear. He had every reason to fall into deep despair, depression. His two wives had been taken captive by the Amalekites, vicious enemies of the Hebrews. Furthermore, his men raised a din, demanding death. Notwithstanding, David squared his shoulders, seeking God: “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”
Let’s explain. David, Abravanel, surmises, fell into a deep funk when he contemplated his wives’ plight – stolen by the Amalekites. Sorrow, indeed, felled him; he couldn’t cope, let alone come up with a military plan to strike the Amalekites. Consequently, David’s men grumbled. They sought to dismiss him for leaving them in the lurch. Now was the time for grit and resolve, not self-pity, they bellowed. To restate, David’s fighters vehemently objected to their captain’s excessive grieving. Hadn’t all the men suffered heavy blows, living with uncertainty concerning their sons and daughters? That’s the meaning of the phrase above: ”And David was greatly distressed.”
David, Abravanel concludes, regained his footing. Though thoroughly distraught due to his wives’ disappearance, he pulled himself up by the bootstraps. Literally. Manfully, he called for divine intervention and advice. God, via the priest’s Urim and Thummim, answered His loyal servant. “And He answered him: Pursue; for you shall surely overtake them, and shall without fail recover all.”
The initial, harrowing setback ended well. David and his men put the Amalekites to the sword and secured the captives’ release. “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, who rode upon camels and fled. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.”