1 Samuel 30:11

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 30:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they gave him water to drink.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they gave him water to drink.
1 Samuel 30:11 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they gave him water to drink.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they found an Egyptian in the field, etc.] As they passed along, lying there, having been sick, and was half starved, almost dead: and brought him to David; to know what was to be done with him; being in the habit of a soldier, they concluded he might be one of the company they were in pursuit of; but whether they should kill him, or make use of him for intelligence and as a guide, could they bring him to himself, they knew not, and therefore brought him to David: and gave him bread, and he did eat, and they made him drink water; both which they had with them for their own use; had he been an Amalekite, and not an Egyptian, they might not have relieved or spared him, but must have…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David--Old and homeborn slaves are usually treated with great kindness. But a purchased or captured slave must look to himself; for, if feeble or sick, his master will leave him to perish rather than encumber himself with any additional burden. This Egyptian seems to have recently fallen into the hands of an Amalekite, and his master having belonged to the marauding party that had made the attack on Ziklag, he could give useful information as to the course taken by them on their return.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“30:11-12 David had once received bread when he was famished (21:3-7). He and his men helped this Egyptian man before they even knew his identity or his ability to help their cause.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“gave him: Deu 15:7-11, Deu 23:7; Pro 25:21; Mat 25:35; Luk 10:36, Luk 10:37; Rom 12:20, Rom 12:21 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 30:12”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“On their further march they found an Egyptian lying exhausted upon the field; and having brought him to David, they gave him food and drink, namely "a slice of fig-cake (cf. Sa1 25:18), and raisin-cakes to eat; whereupon his spirit of life returned (i.e., he came to himself again), as he had neither eaten bread nor drunk water for three days." 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 30:13”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification