1 Samuel 30:3
So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙
H376
וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
3 of 12
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
הָעִ֔יר
to the city
H5892
הָעִ֔יר
to the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
5 of 12
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
שְׂרוּפָ֖ה
and behold it was burned
H8313
שְׂרוּפָ֖ה
and behold it was burned
Strong's:
H8313
Word #:
7 of 12
to be (causatively, set) on fire
וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם
and their sons
H1121
וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם
and their sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
10 of 12
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
Historical Context
Returning warriors finding their settlement destroyed was an ancient nightmare. The complete vulnerability of undefended settlements made protection of home the primary obligation of fighting men.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you process discovering that what you left protected has been destroyed?
- What does it feel like to fail in your most fundamental responsibilities?
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Analysis & Commentary
The scene of David and his men encountering the burning ruins of their home emphasizes complete devastation. The Hebrew construction 'hineh seruphah ba'esh' (behold, burned with fire) captures the visual shock. The threefold loss, 'wives, sons, and daughters,' encompasses the entire domestic sphere. For ancient warriors, whose purpose centered on protecting family, this represented total failure. The men who followed David as protector found their trust apparently betrayed by his absence during the raid.