And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
Ver. 1. Were come to Ziklag on the third day.] For so long they were in coming from the camp of the Philistines. See 2 Samuel 1:2 .
That the Amalekites had invaded the south.] Of Judea, David's country, who had lately so slaughtered them, but not wholly destroyed them. It is said of Carthage, that Rome was more troubled with it when it was half destroyed, than when it stood whole: so here, for now these Amalekites were enraged, and sought revenge.
And smitten Ziklag, and burnt it with fire.] Taking the advantage of David's absence. And this was all that he got by fleeing to the Philistines, and marching among them. They sent him away as a man not to be trusted; and Ziklag smarts and smokes for their attempt against God's people. But God had a holy hand in all, both for the chastising of David's diffidence and dissimulation, for the further punishment of the cursed Amalekites, and for the endearing of David to his own people by the fame of his victory, and the largess he sent them. 1Sa 30:26