1 Samuel 30:25

1Sa 30:25 And it was [so] from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

Ver. 25. That he made it a statute,] i.e., He revived and ratified it as most reasonable. The truth is, that all God’s laws are grounded upon so much good reason, that though he had never made them, yet it had been our wisest way to have lived according to them; since his will is not only recta but regula, the very rule of right.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Some refer these words to David, that he alleged an old custom and law, as if it were written, it is both now, and hath been ever.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 25. He made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel] Nothing could be more just and proper than this law: he who stays at home to defend house and property, has an equal right to the booty taken by those who go out to the war. There was a practice of this kind among the Israelites long before this time; see Nu 31:27; Jos 22:8; and the note on this latter verse. See Clarke on Jos 22:8.

Unto this day.] This is another indication that this book was composed long after the facts it commemorates. See the hypothesis in the preface.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(25) A statute and an ordinance for Israel.—The decree that they, who for good reasons tarry with the stuff, shall share alike with those who go down to the battle, which became a received ordinance in Israel, is not without its meaning. In the Heavenly Church of God

“ His state

Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed,

And post o’er land and ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and wait.”

MILTON: Sonnet 19

Moses praying on the hill contributed to the victory over Amalek even more than Joshua fighting in the plain (Exo_17:11). “All Christians are not of equal strength, and some follow Christ to the conflict, others tarry with the stuff. Some fight the Lord’s battles in the din of active life; others, aged men and women, the Simeons and Annas of the Church . . . weak in body but strong in faith, fight with the peaceful arms of prayers and tears; Christ is omnipotent and merciful He rewards those who tarry in patience with the stuff, as well as those who go forth in the march to fight valiantly in the battle.”—Bishop Hall, in Wordsworth.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And it was so from that day forward,.... Or "upwards" (x), of old, formerly; and so may refer either to what was done at the war with Midian, Num 31:27; or in the times of Abraham, Gen 14:23; and so Jarchi observes, it is not said, "henceforward", but "upwards", it being a statute and custom in the days of Abraham; the same he notes on Gen 14:24; where he, David, learnt this from thence; though Josephus (y) is express for it, that this law obtained from the time of David; and such was his authority, though as yet not king, but a wise and just commander:

that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day; it appeared so reasonable and equitable, that it was always regarded and attended to.

(x) "et supra", Pagninus, Montanus; "et jam olim", Tigurine version. (y) Antiqu. l. 6. c, 14. sect. 6.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

A law. Custom, (Calmet) and a particular injunction, had long before made way for it, Numbers xxxi. 27, (Haydock) and Josue xxii. 8. --- We might translate the Hebrew, "And this law had been observed in Israel from that day and before." David restored to its full vigour this ancient regulation. The Hebrews have no compound verbs, such as re-establish, re-build, &c., instead of which, they say, to establish, (Calmet) and build again. Thus, by the addition of adverbs, they can explain the same things. Protestants, "from that day forward he made it a statute," &c. (Haydock) --- It is not, therefore, unlawful to make new laws, provided they be conformable to those of God, Deuteronomy iv., and xii. (Worthington)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

25. He made it a statute — But it had been known in Israel before. See Num_31:27; Jos_22:8.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That he made it. Ie. David. Having been thus enacted by him and practised during his life, no king henceforward would venture to change it. In the war with the Midianites Moses had ordered that half the spoil should belong to the combatants and half to the congregation who remained in the comp. (Num_31:27) This enactment of David was in the same spirit.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

From that day on. [Literally 'from that day and above']. It is not stated: "[from that day] on" but "[from that day] and above [=before]." Avrohom had already instituted this statute [when he said,] "Only what the lads have eaten," those are the ones who stayed with the equipment, "and the portion of the men" who went to war. In Breishis Raboh.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.