9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind.
9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.
9 David went, he and the six hundred men with him. They arrived at the Brook Besor, where some of them dropped out.
9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind.
9 So David and his 600Â men set out, and they came to the brook Besor.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 30:9
Commentary on 1 Samuel 30:7-15
(Read 1 Samuel 30:7-15)
If in all our ways, even when, as in this case, there can be no doubt they are just, we acknowledge God, we may expect that he will direct our steps, as he did those of David. David, in tenderness to his men, would by no means urge them beyond their strength. The Son of David thus considers the frames of his followers, who are not all alike strong and vigorous in their spiritual pursuits and conflicts; but, where we are weak, there he is kind; nay more, there he is strong, 2 Corinthians 12:9,10. A poor Egyptian lad, scarcely alive, is made the means of a great deal of good to David. Justly did Providence make this poor servant, who was basely used by his master, an instrument in the destruction of the Amalekites; for God hears the cry of the oppressed. Those are unworthy the name of true Israelites, who shut up their compassion from persons in distress. We should neither do an injury nor deny a kindness to any man; some time or other it may be in the power of the lowest to return a kindness or an injury.