1 Samuel 29-30: A Campaign of Justice and Mercy

We see David solidify his position among the Israelites in these chapters.  After being dismissed by Aphec from the Philistine army, David returns to his land only to find it has been plundered and destroyed by the Amalekites.  His campaign to recover what had been taken and to slaughter the offending Amalekites comprises Chapter 30.  And here we see the commendable justice and mercy of the future King David.  He acts with justice in going after the Amalekites (having first consulted with God and the priests), and then, afterwards, his act of mercy towards the Israelites who did not go into battle with him is quite striking.  Of the 600 men who went after the Amalekites, 200 eventually stayed behind because of exhaustion or perhaps even a lack of courage.  Whatever the reason, when the 400 who did go and face the enemy returned, they didn't want to share the spoils of war with those who stayed behind.  Most of us would probably be like those 400 men; it's our human nature to not want to share with those we feel don't deserve it.  But these greedy men are described as "wicked and unjust" (1 Samuel 30:22).  David, with great magnanimity, responds: "You shall not do so, my brethren... equal shall be the portion of him that went down to battle, and of him that abode at the baggage, and they shall divide alike" (1 Samuel 30:23-24).  This account almost sounds like a forerunner of Christ's Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.  David exhibits both justice and mercy almost in one fell swoop.  He is as a good king should be.  Chapter 30 ends with David sharing the spoils of war with the cities of Israel, setting the stage for his ascent to the throne and the unification of the Promised Land, shoring up support among the people, and ultimately making his kingship inevitable -- once Saul is removed from the picture, of course.