Let's put this in perspective. A probable sequence of events goes like this: The Philistines mobilize just as grain harvest ends. Most ancient armies would send an advance party whenever possible to secure and set up a campsite. The Philistines did so in Jezreel, near Shunem. Their activity was reported to Saul, who immediately went in charge of his own advanced party, setting up at Mt. Gilboa. From the heights, Saul could see the massive scale of the Philistine campsite plans as their advance party secures the area. Still using chariots, the Philistines had a tactical advantage that discouraged early interference with their preparations. Saul most likely sent messengers to mobilize Israel, and spent the day trying to get a word from God. Meanwhile, the main Philistine army musters at Aphek, some 45 miles (72km) away, on the fluctuating edge of their own territory.
1 Samuel 29:1-5 -- Most likely, the Philistine army assembled at dawn to pass in review before the five lords of Philistia. These lords were not military men themselves, but would stand at some high vantage point and watch as the troops ride past in chariots, with some in the rear marching on foot. All would be passing by on the way out of the area, heading for the Jezreel Valley, at least two days away. In the rear of this parade was David and his men. The other four lords turn on Achish demanding to know why Hebrews were present in the formation. His answer does not satisfy them. They reason that the one chance David has of returning to Saul's favor would be to turn against the Philistines and attack from the rear.
29:6-11 -- Achish summoned David and told him the situation. David complained that this was clearly an unreasoned prejudice, since nothing he did could have been the basis for a complaint. Nonetheless, there was no reversing this decision. He was ordered to stand down and remain in the camp at Aphek. At the next sunrise, he was to return home.
30:1-6 -- The trip home took David and his men three days. This was a force march of about 70 miles (112km). They found Ziklag a smoking ruin, from an Amalekite raid. They were obviously taking revenge for David hitting them so hard for over a year. There were no bodies, so clearly all the women folk were still alive. Most likely, they were to be sold as slaves in Egypt. There was hope for a rescue, but the unspeakable grief even led some to suggest stoning David. David gather his faith before acting.
30:7-20 -- Wisely, David summoned Abiather to consult with God about pursuing the raiders. The answer was an expansive assurance that he would succeed in rescuing every soul. The troops had not yet unpacked and recovered from the forced march back from the Philistine muster. So it was just about 5 miles (8km) down the road behind the raiders, they came to the Brook Besor. Both Ziklag and this watercourse are as yet uncertain, but the Hebrew writer's choice of words suggests a fairly deep ravine. One third of the men were simply dead on their feet, so David left them to guard the baggage while the rest pursued. Carrying only weapons would make the pursuit easier for men who had endured quite a hike already.
They stumbled upon an Egyptian, a slave abandoned by the fleeing Amalekites. The fellow had fallen ill, and was of no greater value to his master than a lame herd animal, and was left to die. David ordered food and water given to the man, who had been without for three days. As David had expected, the slave had belonged to the one of the Amalekite raiders and provided excellent information. The raiders had struck several small places around southern Judah, made references to the region given the Caleb, and had intentionally been seeking David's base. David and his men were known as "Cherethites", a reference to their stay in the Chereth Forest. In exchange for his life and freedom, the slave promised to show David where the raiders would be stopping for the night.
True to his word, the slave brought them to a huge camp. They found the raiders celebrating lavishly and already mostly drunk. It was evening, and David's army attacked and destroyed the entire force of Amalekites. It took them until the same time the next day, but the only survivors were 400 camel riders who had ridden off immediately. All the women were recovered alive, including David's two wives. The raiders had taken a tremendous load of plunder and by right of victory it was all David's now. While his men were free to gather what they wished, David commandeered all the herd animals for himself. He had plans for them.
30:21-31 -- While David's men were certainly loyal, and brave warriors, not all of them were fine gentlemen by any stretch. A good number of them were quite nasty with their fellow soldiers who had remained with the baggage. Though David had saluted them respectfully, the nastier sort among those who had ambushed the Amalekites were suggesting the rear guard deserved no share of the spoil, only let them have their families back. David squelched this talk by establishing a decree that in Israel, every soldier took an equal share of the spoil regardless of his particular duty. While the greedy bunch were emphasizing it was they who bore the risk in combat, David reminded them it was the rear guard that made their success possible, by guarding the gear they left behind.
When they arrived back at Ziklag, David sent the herd animals as presents to his supporters throughout Judah. The scribe lists the major cities where David and his men had roamed in the past, and it was these who were some of his strongest supporters later.
31:1-7 -- Meanwhile, far to the north, the sad tale of Saul's end is told briefly. They fought, the Philistines won, and Israel fled. The troops were chased up the slope of Gilboa. Saul's sons died, all three. Saul was mortally wounded by archers. Unable to continue, he asked his armor bearer to finish him off to prevent the Philistines torturing him while he still lived. The young man refused, so Saul committed suicide, a rare event in Scripture. An armor bearer dare not return alive without his master, so took his own life, too. So fierce was the slaughter that the Hebrews in the vicinity of Jezreel on the bank of the Jordan abandoned their cities. The Philistines stationed garrisons in the empty towns.
31:8-13 -- During the grisly task of stripping the dead the next day, the Philistines identified Saul's body. Perhaps in retribution for Goliath's end, they removed Saul's head and sent it on a tour of Philistia. The armor was stored in the treasure house of Astarte, which is likely to have been quite close by the battle field. Excavations have found such a temple there. The bodies of Saul and his sons were hung from the wall of the fortress town at Bethshan.
The last favor they could give Saul, the men of Jabesh-gilead slipped up to the fortress at night and took the bodies down. Theirs was the town that Saul had rescued in his first act as king some 20 years before. So they brought the bodies back home to Jabesh. While cremation was rare among Hebrews, they probably took this step to prevent the possibility of a Philistine reprisal recovering their trophies. This act of reverence was altogether honorable, and quite risky.
Had David remained in Saul's service, he would no doubt have died in that battle. We remember Saul's good traits -- his kindness and generosity, his courage and leadership, even his humility -- but cannot forget he never seemed to press to completion many of the less pleasant tasks he was called by God to perform. His primitive rule was done; David was now king.
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Ed Hurst
19 June 2004
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