1 Samuel 30:17 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

From the twilight: the word signifies both the morning and evening twilight. But the latter seems here intended, partly because their eating, and drinking, and dancing was more customary and proper work for the evening than for the morning; and partly because the evening was more convenient for David, that the fewness of his forces might not be discovered by the day-light. Object. It is not likely that David would fall upon the Amalekites before his men, who had been tired with a long and hasty march, were refreshed. Answ. Nor is it said that he did. It is probable that when he came near them, he reposed himself and his army in some secret place, whereof there were many in those parts, for a convenient season; and then marched on so as to come to them at the evening time.

1 Samuel 30:17

17 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, which rode upon camels, and fled.