1 Samuel 30:23–31

But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD.” It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

This is the antithesis of what “the wicked and worthless men” wanted to do. David sees the spoil as what the LORD has given us. Therefore, it should be distributed amongst the LORD’s people.

The fact that they were able to recover 100% of everything taken is amazing. It should be obvious to everyone that this was no mere coincidence.

So, David makes this equal distribution a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

The Hebrew word translated as “statute” (חֹק, hoeq) is derived from the verb (חקק, hqq), which means to inscribe or write by cutting—in other words to decree permanently. The Hebrew word translated as “rule” (מִשְׁפָּט, mish-paht) is derived from the verb (שֹׁפֵ֥ט, sho-pait) which means to judge or govern.

So, this is a permanent judgement, part of Israel’s rules of war, forevermore.

David’s statute recognizes a principle of war that Israel has yet to learn—it’s the whole nation that wins or loses. War isn’t just about the soldiers. The statute gives everyone a sense of “ownership,” thus motivating them.

It won’t be long before all of Israel will be carried off into captivity. Then they’ll understand that the war effort involves everyone.

Today’s passage uses a curious phrase to describe the noncombatants—he who stays by the baggage. The Hebrew word translated as baggage (כֵּלִ֖ים, kay-leem) literally means tools or implements. David’s statute is the beginning of appreciating logistics.

Armies need food. Modern armies need fuel and ammunition. Running out of any of these things can be catastrophic. Thus, winning a war depends not just on the combatants, but on the nation supporting them.

In 2022, logistics problems stalled the Russian invasion of Ukraine before it could reach Kiev. A mighty army became sitting ducks. They ultimately withdrew after suffering heavy losses.

David proclaimed the equal distribution statute because it’s righteous, but it turns out to also be practical.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday ones are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to the DEEP click here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

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Scripture taken from the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.