Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Samuel 30:1-2

"And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the South, and upon Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women [and all] that were therein, both small and great: they slew not any, but carried them off, and went their way." — 1 Samuel 30:1-2 (ASV)

And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire, and had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

They were roving bands of marauders, and no doubt preserved the women alive to sell them for slaves, the main object of those robbers being gain.

And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

What a remarkable providence! There was a blood-feud between Amalek and Israel since Israel sought to exterminate the Amalekites, and it is written, The Lord shall have war with Amalek for ever and ever; yet God restrains these tigers, and will not let the lions devour their prey.