1
Then it happened when David and his mencame to Ziklag on the thirdday, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrownZiklag and burned it with fire;
6
Moreover David was greatlydistressedbecause the peoplespoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, eachonebecause of his sons and his daughters. But Davidstrengthened himself in the LORD his God.
8
Davidinquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursuethisband? Shall I overtake them?" And He said to him, "Pursue, for you will surelyovertake them, and you will surelyrescue all."
12
They gave him a piece of figcake and twoclusters of raisins, and he ate; then his spiritrevived. For he had not eatenbread or drunkwater for threedays and threenights.
13
Davidsaid to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" And he said, "I am a youngman of Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite; and my masterleft me behindwhen I fellsickthreedays ago.
15
Then Davidsaid to him, "Will you bring me down to thisband?" And he said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to thisband."
16
When he had brought him down, behold, they were spreadoverall the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the greatspoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.
17
Davidslaughtered them from the twilightuntil the evening of the nextday; and not a man of them escaped, except*fourhundredyoungmenwhorode on camels and fled.
19
But nothing of theirs was missing, whethersmallorgreat, sons or daughters, spoiloranything that they had taken for themselves; Davidbrought it allback.
21
When Davidcame to the two hundredmenwho were tooexhausted to follow*David, who had also been left at the brookBesor, and they went out to meetDavid and to meet the peoplewho were with him, then Davidapproached the people and greeted* them.
22
Then all the wicked and worthlessmenamong those whowent with Davidsaid, "Because* they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except* to everyman his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart."
23
Then Davidsaid, "You must not doso, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that cameagainst us.
24
"And who will listen to you in thismatter? For as his share is who goesdown to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall sharealike."
26
Now when Davidcame to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "Behold, a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD: