1 Samuel 30:10
But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף
pursued
H7291
וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף
pursued
Strong's:
H7291
Word #:
1 of 15
to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)
ה֖וּא
H1931
ה֖וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
3 of 15
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
מָאתַ֣יִם
for two hundred
H3967
מָאתַ֣יִם
for two hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
5 of 15
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
אִ֔ישׁ
men
H376
אִ֔ישׁ
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
6 of 15
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)
וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙
abode behind
H5975
וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙
abode behind
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
7 of 15
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
מָאתַ֣יִם
for two hundred
H3967
מָאתַ֣יִם
for two hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
8 of 15
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
אִ֔ישׁ
men
H376
אִ֔ישׁ
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
9 of 15
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)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
10 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מֵֽעֲבֹ֖ר
that they could not go over
H5674
מֵֽעֲבֹ֖ר
that they could not go over
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
12 of 15
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
13 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Ancient military expeditions regularly left portions of forces to guard supplies and establish fallback positions. The two hundred men at Besor served a legitimate military function despite their exhaustion.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you handle varying capacities within your group or team?
- What balance exists between compassion for weakness and mission requirements?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The division of forces, four hundred pursuing while two hundred remain, raises questions David will address later. The Hebrew 'piggeru' (too faint, exhausted) describes men beyond physical capacity to continue. The three-day return march from Aphek plus emotional devastation had depleted these men completely. David neither condemns their weakness nor delays the pursuit; he assigns them guard duty and proceeds. Leadership requires accepting varied capacity while maintaining mission focus.