Lexical Summary Rakal: Racal Original Word: רָכָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Rachal From rakal; merchant; Rakal, a place in Palestine -- Rachal. see HEBREW rakal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rakal Definition a city in S. Judah NASB Translation Racal (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רָכָל proper name, of a location (trader ?); — in south of Judah כְּרָכָל 1 Samuel 30:29, ᵐ5 ἐν Καρμήλ [A Παχηλ], read probably בְּכַרְמֶל We Dr Bu Kit HPS; see II. ׳כ 2 Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Racal appears once in Scripture, in the catalogue of towns that received a portion of the Amalekite spoil from David (1 Samuel 30:26-31). After rescuing the captives at Ziklag, David sent gifts “to those in Racal” (1 Samuel 30:29). The gesture was part of a broader policy of generosity that knit together the elders of Judah and prepared the way for David’s later acceptance as king in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:4). Geographical Identification The towns listed with Racal—Eshtemoa, Hormah, Bor-ashan, Hebron, and various Jerahmeelite and Kenite settlements—cluster in the southern hill country of Judah and the northern Negev. While Racal’s precise site remains uncertain, the literary context places it on or near the trade routes that ran south of Hebron toward the wilderness of Paran. The root consonants of the name correspond to Hebrew terms connected with commerce, suggesting that Racal may have been a caravan station or market village along those routes. Historical Significance 1 Samuel 30 describes a turning-point for David. Rejected in Philistine territory and having lost everything at Ziklag, he sought the LORD, pursued the Amalekites, and recovered all. By sharing the spoil equally between the 400 warriors who fought and the 200 who guarded the supplies (1 Samuel 30:24-25), and then sending portions to towns like Racal, David demonstrated a kingship marked by justice, generosity, and covenant loyalty. Those qualities contrasted sharply with Saul’s earlier refusal to “listen to the voice of the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:22-23), underscoring why the kingdom was transferring to David. Theological Themes 1. Stewardship of Victory. David explicitly calls the plunder “from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD” (1 Samuel 30:26). The gifts were not mere political bribes; they were acknowledgments that triumph belongs to God and is to be shared for the strengthening of His people. Lessons for Ministry Today • Share God-given resources widely, not merely with the influential but also with forgotten “Racals.” Archaeological and Scholarly Notes Modern proposals locate Racal at Khirbet Raqaʿ or near Khirbet el-Kilʿa, both southwest of Hebron. Pottery surveys in these areas reveal Iron Age occupation consistent with Davidic-period activity. Although no inscription bearing the name has surfaced, the geographical fit with 1 Samuel 30 lends plausibility to such identifications. Related Biblical Parallels • Abraham’s generosity toward the king of Salem after his own victory (Genesis 14:17-24). Summary Racal, though mentioned only once, serves as a witness to David’s God-centered leadership. Its inclusion in the spoil-list illustrates the biblical ethic of communal blessing, reinforces the unity of God’s people, and offers a timeless model for stewardship, generosity, and covenant faithfulness. Forms and Transliterations בְּרָכָ֗ל ברכל bə·rā·ḵāl beraChal bərāḵālLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 30:29 HEB: וְלַאֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּרָכָ֗ל וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י NAS: and to those who were in Racal, and to those who KJV: And to [them] which [were] in Rachal, and to [them] which [were] in the cities INT: who Racal who the cities 1 Occurrence |
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