BibleWord.ai› Bible› 1 Samuel› Chapter 30› Verse 9

1 Samuel 30:9

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 30:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So 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.
1 Samuel 30:9 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
12And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.
← 1 Samuel 30:81 Samuel 30:10 →
← Full Chapter 30 1 Samuel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So David went, he and the six hundred men that [were] with him, etc.] Encouraged by the oracle of the Lord: and came to the brook Besor; which Adrichomius f556 places in the tribe of Simeon; it is thought to be near Gaza. Aristaeus f557 speaks of brooks that flowed by Gaza and Ashdod, places that belonged to the Philistines; some take it to be the river of the wilderness in Amos, (see Gill on “<300614>Amos 6:14”): where those that were left behind stayed: or a part of them were left, as the Targum; all the six hundred came to this brook, but two hundred of them were left here, (<093010>1 Samuel 30:10) shows, and stayed here till the rest returned; for this is not to be understood of any that…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“came to the brook Besor--now Wady Gaza, a winter torrent, a little to the south of Gaza. The bank of a stream naturally offered a convenient rest to the soldiers, who, through fatigue, were unable to continue the pursuit.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Besor - Thought to be the stream of the Wady Sheriah which enters the sea a little south of Gaza. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“30:9 Besor was a large brook in Philistine territory that emptied into the Mediterranean southwest of Gaza.”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 30 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification