1 Samuel 30:21
New International Version
Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were.

New Living Translation
Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully.

English Standard Version
Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them.

Berean Standard Bible
When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Brook of Besor, they came out to meet him and the troops with him. As David approached the men, he greeted them,

King James Bible
And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

New King James Version
Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them.

New American Standard Bible
When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David and had been left behind at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them.

NASB 1995
When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them.

NASB 1977
When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also remained at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, and David approached the people and greeted them.

Amplified Bible
David came to the two hundred men who were so exhausted that they could not follow him and had been left at the brook Besor [with the provisions]. They went out to meet David and the people with him, and when he approached the people, he greeted them.

Christian Standard Bible
When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to go with him and had been left at the Wadi Besor, they came out to meet him and to meet the troops with him. When David approached the men, he greeted them,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When David came to the 200 men who had been too exhausted to go with him and had been left at the Wadi Besor, they came out to meet him and to meet the troops with him. When David approached the men, he greeted them,

American Standard Version
And David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

Contemporary English Version
On the way back, David went to the 200 men he had left at Besor Gorge, because they had been too tired to keep up with him. They came toward David and the people who were with him. When David was close enough, he greeted the 200 men and asked how they were doing.

English Revised Version
And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David came to the 200 men who had been too exhausted to go with him and had stayed in the Besor Valley. They came to meet David and the people with him. As David approached the men, he greeted them.

Good News Translation
Then David went back to the two hundred men who had been too weak to go with him and had stayed behind at Besor Brook. They came forward to meet David and his men, and David went up to them and greeted them warmly.

International Standard Version
David came to the 200 men who were too exhausted to follow him and who had been left at the Wadi Besor. They came out to meet David and the people who were with him. As David approached the people, he asked them how they were doing.

Majority Standard Bible
When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Brook of Besor, they came out to meet him and the troops with him. As David approached the men, he greeted them,

NET Bible
Then David approached the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to go with him, those whom they had left at the Wadi Besor. They went out to meet David and the people who were with him. When David approached the people, he asked how they were doing.

New Heart English Bible
David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom he also had made to stay at the Wadi Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people, he greeted them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

World English Bible
David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to stay at the brook Besor; and they went out to meet David, and to meet the people who were with him. When David came near to the people, he greeted them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David comes to the two hundred men who were too faint to go after David, and whom they cause to abide at the Brook of Besor, and they go out to meet David, and to meet the people who [are] with him, and David approaches the people, and asks of them of welfare.

Young's Literal Translation
And David cometh in unto the two hundred men who were too faint to go after David, and whom they cause to abide at the brook of Besor, and they go out to meet David, and to meet the people who are with him, and David approacheth the people, and asketh of them of welfare.

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will come to the two hundred men which were faint from going after David, and they will cause them to dwell by the torrent of Bezor: and they will come forth to meet David and to meet the people which are with him: and David will draw near to the people and will ask to them of peace.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David came to the two hundred men, who being weary had stayed, and were not able to follow David, and he had ordered them to abide at the torrent Besor: and they came out to meet David, and the people that were with him. And David coming to the people saluted them peaceably.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then David arrived at the two hundred men, who, being weary, had stayed, for they had not been able to follow David, and he had ordered them to remain at the torrent Besor. And they went out to meet David, and the people who were with him. Then David, drawing near to the people, greeted them peacefully.

New American Bible
When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him, whom he had left behind at the Wadi Besor, they came out to meet David and the men with him. As David approached, he greeted them.

New Revised Standard Version
Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the Wadi Besor. They went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. When David drew near to the people he saluted them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And David came to the two hundred men who were left behind to guard the baggage, whom he had placed there to guard the road to Besor; and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him; and when David and the people drew near, they exchanged greetings.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David came to the two hundred men who had stayed to guard the equipment that he gave them to keep in the road of Butsar, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people that were with him, and David came and the people and they invoked their peace
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him; and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David comes to the two hundred men who were left behind that they should not follow after David, and he had caused them to remain by the brook of Bosor; and they came forth to meet David, and to meet his people with him: and David drew near to the people, and they asked him how he did.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Spoils are Divided
21When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him from the Brook of Besor, they came out to meet him and the troops with him. As David approached the men, he greeted them, 22but all the wicked and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered, except for each man’s wife and children. They may take them and go.”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 25:13
And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

1 Samuel 18:2
And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

1 Samuel 22:2
And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

1 Samuel 23:13
Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

2 Samuel 2:3
David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

2 Samuel 8:18
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priestly leaders.

2 Samuel 15:19-22
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. / In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.” / But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!” ...

2 Samuel 19:41-43
Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” / And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” / “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.

1 Chronicles 12:17-18
And David went out to meet them, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.” / Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.

1 Chronicles 26:26-28
This Shelomith and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders. / They had dedicated some of the plunder from their battles to the repair of the house of the LORD. / Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.

Matthew 20:15
Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Matthew 25:14-30
For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. / To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. / The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ...

Luke 15:25-32
Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. / So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. / ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’ ...

Luke 19:24-26
Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ / ‘Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ / He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

John 6:70-71
Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” / He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

two hundred men

1 Samuel 30:10
But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.

came near

Hebrews 13:1
Let brotherly love continue.

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Judges 8:15
And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?

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1 Samuel 30
1. The Amalekites raid Ziklag
4. David asking counsel, is encouraged by God to pursue them
11. By the means of a received Egyptian he is brought to the enemies,
18. and recovers all the spoil
22. David's law to divide the spoil equally
26. He sends presents to his friends














When David came to the two hundred men
David, having returned from a victorious battle against the Amalekites, approaches the two hundred men who had stayed behind. These men were part of his larger group of six hundred, highlighting the importance of community and shared responsibility within the people of God. This moment underscores the leadership qualities of David, who ensures that all members of his group are accounted for and valued.

who had been too exhausted to follow him
The exhaustion of these men reflects the physical and emotional toll of their journey and previous battles. It serves as a reminder of human limitations and the need for rest, which is a recurring theme in Scripture (e.g., Psalm 23:2). This also illustrates the compassion and understanding of David as a leader, recognizing the limitations of his men.

and who were left behind at the Brook of Besor
The Brook of Besor is a geographical location that provided a natural resting place. It is situated in the southern part of Judah, near the Negev desert. This brook represents a place of refreshment and renewal, akin to the spiritual refreshment found in God’s presence (Psalm 1:3).

they came out to meet him and the troops with him
The men who stayed behind show respect and eagerness to reconnect with David and the returning troops. This act of coming out to meet them signifies unity and the importance of fellowship among believers, as seen in the early church (Acts 2:42).

As David approached the men, he greeted them
David’s greeting is an act of kindness and inclusion, demonstrating his role as a shepherd-king who cares for all his people, not just the warriors. This reflects the heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd, who knows and cares for His sheep (John 10:14). David’s actions here prefigure the inclusive nature of Christ’s kingdom, where all are valued and have a role to play.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The anointed king of Israel, known for his leadership and heart after God. In this passage, he demonstrates leadership and compassion.

2. Two Hundred Men
These were part of David's army who were too exhausted to continue the pursuit of the Amalekites and were left behind at the Wadi Besor.

3. Wadi Besor
A dry riverbed or valley where the two hundred men stayed while David and the rest of his men pursued the Amalekites.

4. The Amalekites
A nomadic tribe that had raided Ziklag, taking captives and spoils, prompting David's pursuit.

5. The People with David
Refers to the four hundred men who continued with David to recover their families and possessions from the Amalekites.
Teaching Points
Compassionate Leadership
David's greeting to the exhausted men shows a leader's heart that values every member of his team, regardless of their ability to contribute at the moment.

Value of Rest
The two hundred men were left behind due to exhaustion, illustrating the importance of recognizing human limitations and the need for rest.

Unity and Inclusion
David's approach to the men emphasizes the importance of unity and inclusion within the community of believers, valuing each person's contribution.

Grace and Generosity
David's actions reflect God's grace, as he does not rebuke the men for their inability to continue but instead welcomes them back into the fold.

Encouragement in Weariness
This passage encourages believers to support and uplift those who are weary, reflecting Christ's love and compassion.Verses 21, 22. - On returning David finds the 200 stragglers, whom they had made to abide at the brook Besor. Rather, "whom he had, made to abide," as it was David's office to give such a command. The singular is supported by all the versions except the Chaldee, and by some MSS. David had made such men as were growing weary halt at the torrent, because it was a fit place where to collect the stragglers, and also, perhaps, because it would have required time and labour to get the baggage across. All the more wicked and worthless (see on 1 Samuel 1:16) members of the force now propose to give the 200, only their wives and children, and send them away with no share of the spoil. Besides the sheep and oxen given to David, there would be camels and other animals, arms, gold and silver, clothing, and other personal property.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When David
דָוִ֗ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

came
וַיָּבֹ֣א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the two hundred
מָאתַ֨יִם (mā·ṯa·yim)
Number - fd
Strong's 3967: A hundred

men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who
אֲשֶֽׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had been too exhausted
פִּגְּר֣וּ ׀ (pig·gə·rū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6296: To relax, become exhausted

to follow
מִלֶּ֣כֶת ׀ (mil·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

him
דָוִ֗ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

from the Brook
בְּנַ֣חַל (bə·na·ḥal)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5158: A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft

of Besor,
הַבְּשׂ֔וֹר (hab·bə·śō·wr)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1308: Besor -- a stream in Palestine

they came out
וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ (way·yê·ṣə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to meet
לִקְרַ֣את (liq·raṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7122: To encounter, befall

him
דָּוִ֔ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

[and]
וְלִקְרַ֖את (wə·liq·raṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7122: To encounter, befall

the troops
הָעָ֣ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

with him.
אִתּ֑וֹ (’it·tōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

As David
דָּוִד֙ (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

approached
וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ (way·yig·gaš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

the men,
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

he greeted
וַיִּשְׁאַ֥ל (way·yiš·’al)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

them,
לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (lə·šā·lō·wm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace


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OT History: 1 Samuel 30:21 David came to the two hundred men (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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