1 samuel 30:13 - David asked him, “To whom do you belong? Where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I got sick.

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 30:13

What does "1 samuel 30:13" mean?


This verse from 1 Samuel 30:13 provides crucial background information about a seemingly insignificant character who will play a pivotal role in David's victory. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:

"David asked him, 'To whom do you belong? Where are you from?'": David, leading a group of men pursuing Amalekite raiders, encounters a lone, vulnerable man. David is trying to understand his identity and potential threat. He wants to know his loyalties and origin.

"He said, 'I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite;'": This reveals the man's status:
He is an Egyptian, not part of the Amalekite raiding party by birth. This suggests he's likely a slave or servant.
He's a servant to an Amalekite, placing him in a subordinate position to a member of the very group David is pursuing.

"and my master left me, because three days ago I got sick.": This is the most telling part of the verse. It shows:
The Amalekite master's callous and inhumane treatment of his servant. Instead of caring for him when he was sick, he abandoned him, which was not uncommon for the time.
The man is likely resentful towards his master, and perhaps generally vulnerable.
His desperation makes him potentially willing to cooperate with David in exchange for help.

In essence, this verse reveals:

David's meticulous approach to gathering information.
The man's background as a vulnerable Egyptian slave who was abandoned by his Amalekite master.
The Amalekites' cruelty and potential weakness due to the disregard for their own people.
Sets up the man as a valuable source of information, which will be crucial in helping David locate and defeat the Amalekites. The man knows where the Amalekites went and what they were doing.

The verse is significant because it highlights the Amalekites' cruel nature and sets up the opportunity for David to use the Egyptian slave's knowledge to his advantage, leading to the recovery of his people and their possessions. Without this man's information, David's mission would be much more difficult.