Chap. XXX. ver. 8. And David enquired at the Lord,] David on this occasion shewed his piety in consulting the Lord to know what he was to do. And God having ordered him to pursue the Amalekites, he recovered all that they had taken away, delivered his wives, and took from them a considerable booty. By these means the evil that befell David turned to his advantage, and to his greater glory; and thus, those who in their troubles make the will of God their rule and guide, never fail to experience His favour and protection. Ostervald. — Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake] At the time when this answer was given, the accomplishment of it was highly improbable; for the Amalekites were Chap. XXXI. ver. 2. — slew Jonathan.] It was certainly no small grief to David, to hear of Jonathan's death, as well as a trial of his patience and resignation morrow. § Or. asked them how they did. and justice of David are here displayed to great advantage, in his equitable distribution of the booty taken from the enemy, by ordering, that those who were disabled from actual fighting should share equally with the rest. Dr. Chandler. This determination of David's became a law among the Israelites from that day, ver. 25, till the time when this history was written: and Before CHRIST 1056. and forward. blessing. 1056. 12. — a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins:] In the history of the piratical states of Barbary, it is said, concerning an expedition of some of the natives, "Their temperance is admirable: some meal, a few figs and raisins, which they carry in a goat's skin, serve them a seven or eight days' journey." This is similar to the account here given by the sacred writer, of the provisions carried by David and his men in their expedition against the Amalekites, as appears by what they gave the poor famished Egyptian. The bread of the Israelites answers to the meal of Barbary; and the figs and raisins are what the Moors carry at this day. Harmer.