1 Samuel 30:24

Who will listen to your proposal? The share of the one who went to battle will match the share of the one who stayed with the supplies. They will share alike.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David addresses his men immediately after recovering the plunder taken by the Amalekites, rejecting their demand that only the combatants receive spoils. He issues this ruling before the army disperses, establishing a permanent policy for Israel.

The words — The text uses כְּחֵלֶק (ke./Che.lek) for "like the share of" and יִשְׁמַע (yish.ma') for "will he listen" to frame the dispute over distribution. These terms anchor the narrative in a legal question about equitable allocation rather than military privilege.

The thread — This principle of equal distribution between fighters and camp personnel echoes the division of plunder in Numbers 31:27 and the home division motif in Psalms 68:12. David codifies this practice as a permanent statute for Israel in 1 Samuel 30:25.

Why it lands — The text states that the share of the one who went to battle will match the share of the one who stayed with the supplies, requiring readers to accept that logistical support holds equal value to combat. It asks readers to apply this standard of equal distribution to any group effort where roles differ.

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

וּמִי֙u./Miand/ who?יִשְׁמַ֣עyish.Ma'will he listenלָכֶ֔םla./Khemto <the>/ youלַדָּבָ֖רla./da.Varto the/ matter הַזֶּ֑הha./Zeh<the>/ this כִּ֞יkifor כְּחֵ֣לֶק׀ke./Che.leklike/ [the] share of הַיֹּרֵ֣דhai./yo.Redthe/ [one who] went down בַּמִּלְחָמָ֗הba./mil.cha.Mahin the/ battle וּֽכְחֵ֛לֶקu./khe./Che.lekand/ like/ [the] share of הַיֹּשֵׁ֥בhai./yo.Shevthe/ [one who] remained עַל־'al-with הַכֵּלִ֖יםha./ke.Limthe/ baggage<s>יַחְדָּ֥וyach.Davalike יַחֲלֹֽקוּ׃ סya.cha.Lo.kuthey will share

King James Version

For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

Cross-references

Numbers 31:27 Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to battle and the rest of the congregation.
Joshua 22:8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”
Psalms 68:12 “Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
1 Samuel 25:13 And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.