King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 30:16 Mean?

1 Samuel 30:16 in the King James Version says “And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, ... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

1 Samuel 30:16 · KJV


Context

14

We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

15

And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.

16

And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

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. the next: Heb. their morrow

18

And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The Egyptian guides David to a scene of overconfident celebration: the Amalekites 'spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing.' The Hebrew 'chogegim' (celebrating, making festival) suggests religious feasting, possibly thanking their gods for successful plunder. Their security 'because of all the great spoil' creates vulnerability. The victory celebration becomes the context for their defeat. God uses their moment of greatest confidence as the occasion for their destruction.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Post-raid celebrations were common in ancient cultures, serving both religious (thanksgiving to gods) and social (distributing spoils) functions. Such celebrations also created military vulnerability through distraction and inebriation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does overconfidence following success create vulnerability?
  2. What does the timing of the Amalekites' celebration teach about premature triumph?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיֹּ֣רִדֵ֔הוּ1 of 19

And when he had brought him down

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

וְהִנֵּ֥ה2 of 19
H2009

lo!

נְטֻשִׁ֖ים3 of 19

behold they were spread abroad

H5203

properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive

עַל4 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פְּנֵ֣י5 of 19

upon all

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

כָל6 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ7 of 19

and out of the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

אֹֽכְלִ֤ים8 of 19

eating

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וְשֹׁתִים֙9 of 19

and drinking

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

וְחֹ֣גְגִ֔ים10 of 19

and dancing

H2287

properly, to move in a circle, i.e., (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy

בְּכֹל֙11 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַשָּׁלָ֣ל12 of 19

spoil

H7998

booty

הַגָּד֔וֹל13 of 19

because of all the great

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

אֲשֶׁ֥ר14 of 19
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לָֽקְח֛וּ15 of 19

that they had taken

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ16 of 19

and out of the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים17 of 19

of the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ18 of 19

and out of the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

יְהוּדָֽה׃19 of 19

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 30:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 30:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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