1 Samuel 22:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The distressed, the indebted, and the discontented gather to David, and he becomes captain over about four hundred men.
What Does 1 Samuel 22:2 Mean?
To David's cave come the broken and the burdened: those crushed by hardship, those owing more than they can pay, those bitter in soul. Four hundred such men gather, and David, with no throne yet, becomes their captain. From this ragged company will come the mighty men who later stand at his side.
God does not begin with the strong and the satisfied, but with the desperate who have nowhere else to turn. The ones the world counts as failures become the foundation of the king's house. There is mercy in this gathering, for the very people a settled society pushes aside are welcomed and given a place. The Lord's anointed makes a home for those who came with empty hands.
1 Samuel 22:2 in the Original Language
marah (מָרַר), 'discontented' -- bitter of soul, the inner ache of the wronged and weary.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 22:2
What does 1 Samuel 22:2 mean?
The distressed, the indebted, and the discontented gather to David, and he becomes captain over about four hundred men.