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1 Samuel 30:8

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 30:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue; for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and shalt without fail recover [all].” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue; for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and shalt without fail recover [all].
1 Samuel 30:8 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5And David`s two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.
7And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
8And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue; for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and shalt without fail recover [all].
9So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
10But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
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.
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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 David inquired of the Lord, etc.] That is, by Abiathar, who reported his questions to the Lord in his name: saying, shall I pursue after this troop? the large company of the Amalekites, as it appears by what follows they were: shall I overtake them? two questions are here put together, and answers returned to them, contrary to a notion of the Jews; (see Gill on “<092311>1 Samuel 23:11”); and he answered him, pursue; which respects the first question: for thou shall surely overtake [them]; which is an answer to the second question, and a full one, giving full assurance of overtaking; to which is added more than what was inquired about; and without fail recover [all]; their wives, sons,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He answered - Before, God answered more slowly and gradually, Sa1 23:11-12, but now he answers speedily, and fully at once, because the business required haste. So gracious is our God, that he considers even the degree of our necessities, and accommodates himself to them. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 30:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“30:8 Unlike Saul (28:6), David inquired of the Lord successfully (see 23:9-12; 2 Sam 2:1; 5:19, 23).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“inquired: Sa1 23:2, Sa1 23:4, Sa1 23:10-12; Jdg 20:18, Jdg 20:23, Jdg 20:28; Sa2 5:19, Sa2 5:23; Pro 3:5, Pro 3:6 he answered him: Sa1 14:37, Sa1 28:6, Sa1 28:15, Sa1 28:16; Num 27:21; Psa 50:15, Psa 91:15 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 30:10”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification