1 Samuel 30:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David and his men return home to Ziklag after three days to find the town raided and burned by the Amalekites.
What Does 1 Samuel 30:1 Mean?
David and his six hundred men, having been sent away from the Philistine army before its battle with Israel, march home to Ziklag, the town given them for refuge. They arrive on the third day to a smoldering ruin: while they were gone, an Amalekite raiding band had swept down on the unguarded south country and put their city to the torch.
Homecoming becomes catastrophe in a single line. The place meant to be a haven has been stripped bare, and David walks straight into loss. Scripture does not hide such moments; it sets them down plainly, so that those who have ever returned to find their refuge in ashes may know they are not the first. What David does next, when the ground gives way beneath him, becomes the heart of the chapter.
1 Samuel 30:1 in the Original Language
Amalek (עֲמָלֵק) names Israel's persistent desert enemy, the very nation David had been sent to strike.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 30:1
What does 1 Samuel 30:1 mean?
David and his men return home to Ziklag after three days to find the town raided and burned by the Amalekites.