1
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;
2
And had taken the women captives that [were] in it, they slew not any, either great or small, but carried [them] away, and went on their way.
3
So David and his men came to the city, and behold, [it was] burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
4
Then David and the people that [were] with him, lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5
And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6
And David was greatly distressed: for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons, and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
7
And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
8
And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue; for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and without fail recover [all].
9
So David went, he and the six hundred men that [were] with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind remained.
10
But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, who were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
11
And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate; and they made him drink water;