I Shmuel 30: Why Ask the Question if you Know the Answer?

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Aug 31, 2026 · 2m

David and his troops return to Ziklag, but someone else got there first. Amalek attacked the city while David was out to battle with the Philistines. They destroyed the city and kidnapped the inhabitants (וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־צִקְלַג וַיִּשְׂרְפוּ אֹתָהּ בָּאֵשׁ. וַיִּשְׁבּוּ אֶת־הַנָּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־בָּהּ מִקָּטֹן וְעַד־גָּדוֹל) (I Samuel 30:1–2). It was certainly a blunder to leave the city unprotected. But David made the political choice to go to battle with Achish as a way to keep his position with the Philistines secured. Had he not gone, or left some soldiers behind, he may have raised further…