It could be that some of David’s men were driven by greed.1 They were of the opinion that the spoil belonged to them alone since they were the ones who fought on the battlefield. David, however, realizes that the spoil ultimately belonged to the Lord. He is the one who led them to the Amalekites and granted them their victory.2
22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.”