1 Samuel 30 is the final confirmation that David is the king we want to see on the throne of Israel. It is a theme that has featured repeatedly over the course of several chapters: the continual comparison between Saul and David and the details of David’s life on the run. At this point in the narrative, there must be no doubt that in readers’ minds that David is the ideal king. He is the man after God’s own heart, the king we have been waiting for. His loyalty has been demonstrated time and again. He listens to advice. He is shrewd in his dealings with outsiders, honourable in his conduct amongst the pagans. He enjoys success in all that he does. As the king who restores what has been stolen, he is the one who will plunder God’s enemies and bring blessings to God’s people.
In 1 Samuel 30, David is tested by the LORD. He faces a crisis of leadership1 and his response will show him to be the ideal king. Where Saul received no answer from the LORD in his moment of crisis, David is given clear direction. He also succeeds against the Amalekites where Saul had failed (cf. 1 Samuel 28:18).2 In his behaviour towards the Egyptian (1 Samuel 30:11-15) and his men (1 Samuel 30:9-10, 21-25), he acts with grace, as a man who identifies with people and their needs.3 All in all, David is presented as someone who is perfectly suited to the task of leadership. He is the one that we want to see serve as the king of Israel.
Along with demonstrating David’s exemplary character, 1 Samuel 30, in terms of its broader context, also serves to confirm that he was in no way involved in Saul’s death. Whilst Saul was fighting the Philistines, David was fighting the Amalekites. He was far away, doing good for his men, and doing good for Israel.4
1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire