Bible Strands
1 Samuel 30:20
And he took all the flocks and herds, which his men drove ahead of the other livestock, calling out, “This is David’s plunder!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David’s troops have just recovered every animal and item stolen by the Amalekites, with nothing missing. As they drive the flocks and herds ahead of the remaining spoil, they publicly declare the recovered property as belonging to David.
The words — וַיִּקַּח (va/i.yi.Kach) = “and he took,” marking the decisive action of reclaiming the spoils. דָּוִד (da.Vid) = “David,” appears in the shouted declaration that identifies the recovered livestock as his rightful claim.
The thread — The recovery and distribution of plunder reappears in 1 Samuel 30:26 when David sends a portion to the elders of Judah. Similar accounts of capturing and securing livestock appear in Numbers 31:9 and 2 Chronicles 20:25.
Why it lands — The text establishes David’s legitimate authority over recovered goods rather than treating them as common spoils. It requires a reader to recognize that leadership involves securing what was lost and formally claiming it for rightful stewardship.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 30:26 When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.”
- Numbers 31:9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods.
- 2 Chronicles 20:25 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables—more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.
- Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.