1 Samuel 30:11
Now his men found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave the man water to drink and food to eat--
Now his men found an Egyptian in the field

David’s men came upon a servant abandoned by the Amalekites after he became sick. God used the helpless stranger to direct David toward the raiding party that had burned Ziklag and carried away its people.

Gen 16:7-10 Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water…
Exo 2:11-15 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out…
Deu 23:7-8 Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother.…

and brought him to David.

David’s men did not leave him to die, but placed him before their leader. The Egyptian’s later testimony gave David the needed information to pursue the Amalekites, showing how God can guide His servants through unexpected means.

2Sa 4:8-9 They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron…
2Sa 9:6-8 And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul,…
1Sa 16:21-23 When David came to Saul and entered his service,…

They gave the man water to drink and food to eat—

Mercy preceded inquiry. Though the man belonged to an enemy force, David’s men restored his strength after three days without food or water. Their compassion became part of God’s provision for recovering the captives and defeating the Amalekites.

2Ki 6:22-23 “Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those…
Pro 25:21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,…
Gen 18:4-8 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet…

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The anointed future king of Israel, who is leading his men in pursuit of the Amalekites who had raided Ziklag.

2. David's Men
Loyal followers of David, who are with him during this time of distress and pursuit.

3. Egyptian Servant
A young man found in the field, abandoned by his Amalekite master, who becomes a key figure in David's pursuit.

4. Field
The location where David's men find the Egyptian, symbolizing a place of divine encounter and provision.

5. Ziklag
The town given to David by the Philistine king Achish, which was raided and burned by the Amalekites.
Teaching Points
Compassion in Action
David's men provide for the Egyptian's immediate needs, demonstrating the importance of showing mercy and compassion to those in distress.

Divine Providence
The encounter with the Egyptian servant is a reminder of God's provision and guidance in unexpected ways.

The Role of the Outsider
The Egyptian, an outsider and enemy, becomes instrumental in David's mission, highlighting how God can use anyone for His purposes.

Restoration and Redemption
The act of feeding and caring for the Egyptian reflects the broader biblical theme of restoration and redemption.

Obedience and Trust
David's willingness to help the Egyptian, despite the risk, shows trust in God's plan and obedience to His call to love others.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's treatment of the Egyptian reflect the biblical principle of loving your neighbor, and how can we apply this in our daily lives?

2. In what ways does this passage demonstrate God's providence, and how can we be more aware of His guidance in our own circumstances?

3. How does the role of the Egyptian servant challenge our perceptions of who God can use to fulfill His purposes?

4. What are some practical ways we can show compassion to those who are "outsiders" in our communities?

5. How does this account encourage us to trust in God's plan, even when the path is uncertain or involves risk?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 45
Joseph's encounter with his brothers in Egypt, where he provides for them despite their past betrayal, mirrors David's compassionate treatment of the Egyptian.

Luke 10:25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan, where a Samaritan helps a wounded man, parallels David's act of mercy towards the Egyptian.

Matthew 25:35-40
Jesus' teaching on serving "the least of these" connects to David's provision of food and water to the Egyptian.
David in Three SituationsC. Bradley, M. A.1 Samuel 30:1-31
Christian BeneficenceJohn Johnston.1 Samuel 30:11-13
The Outcast ServantHelen Plumptre.1 Samuel 30:11-13
An Egyptian SlaveB. Dale 1 Samuel 30:11-20
People
Abiathar, Abigail, Ahimelech, Ahinoam, Amalekites, Caleb, Cherethites, David, Eshtemoa, Jerahmeelites, Jezreel, Jezreelitess, Jizreelitess, Kenites, Kerethites, Nabal
Places
Besor, Bethel, Bor-ashan, Carmel, Egypt, Eshtemoa, Hebron, Hormah, Jattir, Negeb, Negev, Racal, Ramoth, Siphmoth, Ziklag
Topics
Ate, Bread, Cause, David, Drink, Eat, Eateth, Egyptian, Field, Fields, Meal, Open, Provided
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Samuel 30:11-12

     4293   water
     4404   food
     4440   fig-tree
     4450   fruit
     4458   grape
     8150   revival, personal

1 Samuel 30:11-16

     7266   tribes of Israel

Library
At the Front or the Base
'As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff.'--1 Samuel xxx. 24. David's city of Ziklag had been captured by the Amalekites, while he and all his men who could carry arms were absent, serving in the army of Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. On their return they found ruin, their homes harried, their wives, children, and property carried off. Wearied already with their long march, they set off at once in pursuit of the spoilers, who had had a
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Secret of Courage
'But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.'--1 Samuel xxx. 6. David was at perhaps the very lowest ebb of his fortunes. He had long been a wandering outlaw, and had finally been driven, by Saul's persistent hostility, to take refuge in the Philistines' country. He had gathered around himself a band of desperate men, and was living very much like a freebooter. He had found refuge in a little city of the Philistines, far down in the South, from which he and his men had marched as a contingent
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Statute of David for the Sharing of the Spoil
THOSE WHO ASSOCIATE themselves with a leader must share his fortunes. Six hundred men had quitted their abodes in Judaea; unable to endure the tyranny of Saul they had linked themselves with David, and made him to be a captain over them. They were, some of them, the best of men, and some of them were the worst: in this, resembling our congregations. Some of them were choice spirits, whom David would have sought, but others were undesirable persons, from whom he might gladly have been free. However,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Bright Dawn of a Reign
'And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And He said, Unto Hebron. 2. So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, Nabal's wife, the Carmelite. 3. And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4. And the men of Judah came, and there
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Canaan
Canaan was the inheritance which the Israelites won for themselves by the sword. Their ancestors had already settled in it in patriarchal days. Abraham "the Hebrew" from Babylonia had bought in it a burying-place near Hebron; Jacob had purchased a field near Shechem, where he could water his flocks from his own spring. It was the "Promised Land" to which the serfs of the Pharaoh in Goshen looked forward when they should again become free men and find a new home for themselves. Canaan had ever been
Archibald Sayce—Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations

Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
Massecheth Berachoth, or Tractate on Benedictions [76] Mishnah--From what time is the "Shema" said in the evening? From the hour that the priests entered to eat of their therumah [77] until the end of the first night watch. [78] These are the words of Rabbi Eliezer. But the sages say: Till midnight. Rabban Gamaliel says: Until the column of the morning (the dawn) rises. It happened, that his sons came back from a banquet. They said to him: "We have not said the Shema.'" He said to them, "If the column
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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