Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 30:26

"And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold, a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah:" — 1 Samuel 30:26 (ASV)

He sent of the spoil. —For it to have been worthwhile to send presents to all the places enumerated below, the spoil of the Amalekites captured on this occasion must have been enormous. Moreover, one special circumstance connected with the history leads us to this conclusion. Although these desert Arabs were surprised and attacked at a terrible disadvantage after a debauch, they seem (for their numbers were evidently so great) to have held their ground from early morning until evening, and then 400 managed to escape on their swiftest camels.

It was quite probably the main division of the great tribe, and they had with them the bulk of their flocks and herds, in addition to what they had just captured in their raid in southern Canaan. No doubt the cities to which rich gifts of cattle were sent were those places where, during his long wanderings, he and his followers had been kindly received and helped.