1 Samuel 30:27 MEANING

(27) Bethel . . . South Ramoth . . . Yattir.--Here follows an enumeration of the cities of Judah to whom David sent, most of which have been identified. Bethel--evidently not the well known place of that name, but Bethuel or Bethul in the tribe of Simeon. The LXX. read here Baithsour. South Ramoth, i.e., Ramah of the South. Shimei, who was over David's vineyards, was most likely a native of this town (1 Chronicles 27:27). The place has not been identified. Yattir--the present Attir in the southern part of Judah. Its ruins are still visible.

Verse 27. - Bethel cannot be the famous city of that name, but is probably the Bethul of Joshua 19:4, where it is mentioned as lying near Hormah and Ziklag. South Ramoth. Hebrew, "Ramoth-Negeb," called Ramath-Negeb in Joshua 19:8. Like Bethul, it was a Simeonite village. Jattir belonged to Judah (Joshua 15:48), and was one of the cities assigned to the priests (Joshua 21:14).

30:21-31 What God gives us, he designs we should do good with. In distributing the spoil, David was just and kind. Those are men of Belial indeed, who delight in putting hardships upon their brethren, and care not who is starved, so that they may be fed to the full. David was generous and kind to all his friends. Those who consider the Lord as the Giver of their abundance, will dispose of it with fairness and liberality.To them which were in Bethel,.... One part of the spoil was sent to them; not to those in Bethel, in the tribe of Benjamin, but in Kirjathjearim, called Bethel, or the house of God, because the ark was there, see 1 Samuel 7:1; moreover, this place was also called Baalah, which some think is referred to here, see Joshua 15:9,

and to them which were in south Ramoth; a city of the tribe of Simeon, which lay within the lot of Judah; of which see Joshua 19:8,

and to them which were in Jattir; a city of the tribe of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:48.