Question 1

Why were two hundred men left at the brook Besor and how did David treat them?

Accepted Answer

Two hundred of David’s men were so exhausted they could not continue the chase, so they stayed at the brook Besor to watch the supplies and guard the passage. When David returned from victory, they came out to meet him. David did not shame them. He greeted them kindly and asked about their well-being. Even when some of the other men wanted to shut them out of the spoil, David stood up for them and made sure they were treated as full partners in the victory.

Question 2

Who are the wicked men and men of Belial in this passage and what did they want?

Accepted Answer

The wicked men and men of Belial are part of David’s own group who went into battle with him. Their hearts were greedy and hard toward their tired brothers. They argued that because the two hundred men did not go into the fight, they should not receive any of the spoil, only their own wives and children back. They wanted to keep the rest of the goods for themselves. This showed a selfish spirit that forgot both God’s kindness and the help the others had given by guarding the baggage.

Question 3

What does “as his part is that goeth down to the battle” mean here?

Accepted Answer

The phrase means that the one who fights in the front line and the one who stays behind with the baggage are to share alike in the results. David explains that the spoil is something the Lord has given to all of them, not just the fighters. Those who stayed with the supplies still had a real duty and were in danger if the enemy had returned. So David rules that both groups, those in battle and those by the stuff, are to receive an equal share. It is a picture of fair and generous sharing.

Question 4

Why did David make equal sharing of the spoil a statute and ordinance for Israel?

Accepted Answer

David saw that this was not just a one-time decision but a fair rule for God’s people. He understood that victory and spoil come from the Lord, and every part in the work, seen or unseen, matters. By making it a statute and ordinance, he fixed this principle into the common life of Israel so that future battles would follow the same pattern. This protected the weak, checked greed, and reminded everyone that they served the same Lord and shared in the same blessings together.

Question 5

Why did David send spoil to the elders of Judah and call it a present?

Accepted Answer

After making sure his own men were cared for, David sent part of his personal share of the spoil to the elders of Judah, whom he calls his friends. This showed gratitude for the kindness they had shown him in his years of trouble and likely helped repair losses they had suffered from the same enemies. By calling it a present from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord, he points to God’s victory, not his own, and invites them to share in the joy and blessing of what God had done.

Question 6

What does this passage teach about God’s gifts and how we should view success?

Accepted Answer

David clearly says that the Lord is the one who preserved them and handed their enemies over. The spoil is not something they won by their own strength, but something God gave. Because of that, the right response is not pride or selfishness, but generosity and fairness. Success, gain, and rescue are to be seen as God’s gifts to be shared for the good of the whole community. This passage reminds us to see God’s hand in our victories and to use what we receive to bless others, especially the weak.

Question 7

How can the principle of sharing between fighters and those who stay by the stuff apply today?

Accepted Answer

The story shows that in God’s eyes, different roles can be equally important. Some serve in more visible or risky ways, others support, guard, or care in quieter ways. David insists that all share alike in the blessing. Today this can shape how we think about work in families, churches, and communities. Not everyone can do the same tasks, but all can share in the outcome. It encourages respect for those who support from behind the scenes and calls us to generous, not grudging, sharing.

Question 8

What does David’s behavior here show about his leadership and character?

Accepted Answer

David’s actions show a leader who remembers that everything comes from God. He firmly rejects greed, but he corrects his men gently, calling them “my brethren” while still using his authority. He defends the tired and weak, sets a fair rule for everyone, and then goes further by giving his own share away as gifts of thanks. His leadership is marked by justice, kindness, gratitude, and a strong sense that victories and resources are meant to serve the wider community, not just those in power.

1 Samuel 30:21

¶ And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

The Spoils Are Divided

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1 Samuel 30:21

¶ And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

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The Spoils Are Divided

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