Ye shall not do so, my brethren— David pronounced, in contrariety to the inhuman resolutions of some evil men who attended him, that they who went down to battle, and they who stayed behind to guard the goods and provisions of the army, should share alike in the enemy's spoil; well knowing that there was as much merit in contributing to save a citizen, as in destroying an enemy; and that those who now stayed behind had no other demerit than that of a weaker constitution. Chalcondylas tells us, (lib. 5:) that the Pisidians went further, and gave part of the spoil to those who staid at home and guarded the houses; and God himself appointed half to those who staid at home in the war with Midian. Numbers 31. This determination of David's became a law among the Israelites from that day: and we have reason to believe, that it lasted as long as the Jewish polity did, and was restored with it; and it is generally understood to have been practised by the Maccabees. 2 Maccabees 8 :
REFLECTIONS.—1st. David, having encouraged himself in God in this his great distress, addresses himself to him for direction.
1. He orders Abiathar to bring the ephod, and inquire whether he should go down after these spoilers, and whether he should overtake them; he receives a command to go, and an assurance of success. Had he consulted God before his expedition with the Philistines, perhaps all his trouble might have been prevented. It is good to be made wise by past oversights.
2. Encouraged by this answer from God, he immediately pursues with his six hundred men, who, though fatigued with their march, and more with their trouble, follow hard after the track of these spoilers. At the brook Besor two hundred were quite faint and disabled; these, therefore, he is compelled to leave there to recover themselves, while he continues the pursuit with the remainder, trusting not on the arm of flesh, which was thus weakened, but on the promise of God. Note; (1.) Discouraging providences will but exalt the faith of the determined soul. (2.) They who still press forward, will infallibly seize the prize. (3.) The Son of David considers our infirmities, and pities our weakness.
3. God brings them a guide: a wretched Egyptian lies in their way, sunk under the complicated pressures of sickness and want, speechless, and ready to expire. The men bring him to David, and compassion moves him to relieve so miserable an object. The refreshment they gave him soon brought him to his senses, and enabled him to give an account of himself, and say to whom he belonged. He was an Egyptian, and servant to an Amalekite, as indeed his treatment shewed. Being overtaken with sickness, occasioned by his hard service, his inhuman master had deserted him, and left him barbarously to perish for want. He gives David an account of their expedition, their ravages on the south of Judah, and their capture of Ziklag; and, at David's request, having by an oath bound him not to deliver him up to his cruel master, offers to bring him down to the place where these plunderers were. Note; (1.) Great events often depend on very trivial and unexpected incidents. (2.) No man is so mean and despicable, as to be beneath our notice: we know not how much good or evil the weakest instruments may do us. (3.) He is a cruel and an Amalekite master, who, when his poor servants are sick, dismisses them hastily, and leaves them to shift for themselves while they are so disabled and helpless. (4.) Nothing is ever lost by compassion: charity usually brings its own reward.
4. The Amalekites are surprised in the midst of their feast. Triumphing in their success, and concluding themselves safe from all fear of being pursued, military order was neglected; all were busy in eating, drinking, and dancing, spending the evening in mirth and jollity; when David and his men suddenly fell upon them, and, without resistance, put them to the sword. The pursuit continued till the evening of the next day, and not an Amalekite escaped, except four hundred young men, who owed their preservation to the swiftness of the camels, or dromedaries, on which they rode. All the spoil of their camp fell into the victor's hands: they recovered not only all they had lost, particularly David's wives, who are mentioned as the dearest and nearest to his heart, but also the flocks and herds of the Amalekites, which in triumph were driven home before them as David's spoil. Note; (1.) Security is the destruction of the sinner. (2.) Death unseen is hovering over many a soul which to dance and song devotes the day, and little thinks, in the midst of the throng of pleasures, how near he stands on the brink of never-ending pain. (3.) In prosperity they will be caressed and honoured, who in distress were, like David, insulted. (4.) The Son of David has recovered out of the hands of sin and Satan all that poor sinners had lost, and enriched his faithful people with better spoils than these flocks and herds, even with treasures which robbers can never steal, and mansions of glory, which are incorruptible, undefiled, and never fade away.
2nd, We have here David returning triumphant, and laden with spoil.
1. His wearied troops, who were left at the brook Besor with their baggage, come to meet him, and congratulate him on his victory, and David receives them with great kindness and affection. Note; They who are willing, but weak, must not be upbraided with, but comforted under, their infirmities.
2. The same wicked men, who had talked so mutinously against their leader, now shew the same inhumanity and uncharitableness to their brethren; and would greedily rob them, not only of part of the spoils, but of all that was their own, except their wives and children, which, left thus stript and destitute, would be but a burthen to them. Note; The covetous heart is hardened against the sufferings of the needy.
3. David rejects so unreasonable a proposal. It was highly ungrateful to God, whose hand alone had given them the victory. It was most injurious to their brethren, who, not by choice, but necessity, were left behind, and even then were employed in the needful service of guarding the baggage. David, therefore, commands an equal distribution to be made between them all. Herein they acquiesced, overcome by his persuasion, and overawed by his authority. Note; Resolute firmness is needful in a commander to restrain factious spirits.
4. David generously distributes his own share of the spoil among his friends in Judah and elsewhere, in gratitude for the favour and protection that they had shewed him during his haunts among them. Note; (1.) Every gracious soul must be generous: he who gives a new heart gives a liberal hand. (2.) They who have shewn us kindness deserve a recompence whenever God puts it in our power. (3.) They who are disposed to receive the Son of David for their king, will be enriched by his munificence, not merely with the gifts of grace in time, but with the riches of glory in eternity.