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 therein: 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 spake 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 at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after 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 stayed.

¹⁰ But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which 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 did eat; and they made him drink water;

¹² And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

¹³ And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

¹⁴ We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

¹⁵ And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.

¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

¹⁷ And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

¹⁸ And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

¹⁹ And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

²⁰ And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

²¹ And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

²² Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

²³ Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

²⁴ For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

²⁵ And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

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 the LORD;

²⁷ To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,

²⁸ And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,

²⁹ And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,

³⁰ And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,

³¹ And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

---

¹ And it came to pass, when David ^H1732 and his men ^H582 were come ^H935 to Ziklag ^H6860 on the third ^H7992 day, ^H3117 that the Amalekites ^H6003 had invaded ^H6584 the south, ^H5045 and Ziklag, ^H6860 and smitten ^H5221 Ziklag, ^H6860 and burned ^H8313 it with fire; ^H784

² And had taken the women ^H802 captives, ^H7617 that were therein: they slew ^H4191 not any, ^H376 either great ^H1419 or small, ^H6996 but carried them away, ^H5090 and went ^H3212 on their way. ^H1870

³ So David ^H1732 and his men ^H582 came ^H935 to the city, ^H5892 and, behold, it was burned ^H8313 with fire; ^H784 and their wives, ^H802 and their sons, ^H1121 and their daughters, ^H1323 were taken captives. ^H7617

⁴ Then David ^H1732 and the people ^H5971 that were with him lifted up ^H5375 their voice ^H6963 and wept, ^H1058 until they had no more power ^H3581 to weep. ^H1058

⁵ And David's ^H1732 two ^H8147 wives ^H802 were taken captives, ^H7617 Ahinoam ^H293 the Jezreelitess, ^H3159 and Abigail ^H26 the wife ^H802 of Nabal ^H5037 the Carmelite. ^H3761

⁶ And David ^H1732 was greatly ^H3966 distressed; ^H3334 for the people ^H5971 spake ^H559 of stoning ^H5619 him, because the soul ^H5315 of all the people ^H5971 was grieved, ^H4843 every man ^H376 for his sons ^H1121 and for his daughters: ^H1323 but David ^H1732 encouraged ^H2388 himself in the LORD ^H3068 his God. ^H430

⁷ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Abiathar ^H54 the priest, ^H3548 Ahimelech's ^H288 son, ^H1121 I pray thee, bring me hither ^H5066 the ephod. ^H646 And Abiathar ^H54 brought ^H5066 thither the ephod ^H646 to David. ^H1732

⁸ And David ^H1732 enquired ^H7592 at the LORD, ^H3068 saying, ^H559 Shall I pursue ^H7291 after ^H310 this troop? ^H1416 shall I overtake ^H5381 them? And he answered ^H559 him, Pursue: ^H7291 for thou shalt surely ^H5381 overtake ^H5381 them, and without fail ^H5337 recover ^H5337 all.

⁹ So David ^H1732 went, ^H3212 he and the six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 that were with him, and came ^H935 to the brook ^H5158 Besor, ^H1308 where those that were left behind ^H3498 stayed. ^H5975

¹⁰ But David ^H1732 pursued, ^H7291 he and four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 men: ^H376 for two hundred ^H3967 abode behind, ^H5975 which were so faint ^H6296 that they could not go over ^H5674 the brook ^H5158 Besor. ^H1308

¹¹ And they found ^H4672 an Egyptian ^{H376 H4713} in the field, ^H7704 and brought ^H3947 him to David, ^H1732 and gave ^H5414 him bread, ^H3899 and he did eat; ^H398 and they made him drink ^H8248 water; ^H4325

¹² And they gave ^H5414 him a piece ^H6400 of a cake ^H1690 of figs, and two ^H8147 clusters of raisins: ^H6778 and when he had eaten, ^H398 his spirit ^H7307 came again ^H7725 to him: for he had eaten ^H398 no bread, ^H3899 nor drunk ^H8354 any water, ^H4325 three ^H7969 days ^H3117 and three ^H7969 nights. ^H3915

¹³ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, ^H559 I am a young man ^H5288 of Egypt, ^H4713 servant ^H5650 to an Amalekite; ^{H376 H6003} and my master ^H113 left ^H5800 me, because three ^H7969 days ^H3117 agone I fell sick. ^H2470

¹⁴ We made an invasion ^H6584 upon the south ^H5045 of the Cherethites, ^H3774 and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, ^H3063 and upon the south ^H5045 of Caleb; ^H3612 and we burned ^H8313 Ziklag ^H6860 with fire. ^H784

¹⁵ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 to him, Canst thou bring me down ^H3381 to this company? ^H1416 And he said, ^H559 Swear ^H7650 unto me by God, ^H430 that thou wilt neither kill ^H4191 me, nor ^H518 deliver ^H5462 me into the hands ^H3027 of my master, ^H113 and I will bring thee down ^H3381 to this company. ^H1416

¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, ^H3381 behold, they were spread abroad ^H5203 upon all ^H6440 the earth, ^H776 eating ^H398 and drinking, ^H8354 and dancing, ^H2287 because of all the great ^H1419 spoil ^H7998 that they had taken ^H3947 out of the land ^H776 of the Philistines, ^H6430 and out of the land ^H776 of Judah. ^H3063

¹⁷ And David ^H1732 smote ^H5221 them from the twilight ^H5399 even unto the evening ^H6153 of the next day: ^H4283 and there escaped ^H4422 not a man ^H376 of them, save four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 young ^H5288 men, ^H376 which rode ^H7392 upon camels, ^H1581 and fled. ^H5127

¹⁸ And David ^H1732 recovered ^H5337 all that the Amalekites ^H6002 had carried away: ^H3947 and David ^H1732 rescued ^H5337 his two ^H8147 wives. ^H802

¹⁹ And there was nothing lacking ^H5737 to them, neither ^H4480 small ^H6996 nor great, ^H1419 neither sons ^H1121 nor daughters, ^H1323 neither spoil, ^H7998 nor any thing that they had taken ^H3947 to them: David ^H1732 recovered ^H7725 all.

²⁰ And David ^H1732 took ^H3947 all the flocks ^H6629 and the herds, ^H1241 which they drave ^H5090 before ^H6440 those ^H1931 other cattle, ^H4735 and said, ^H559 This is David's ^H1732 spoil. ^H7998

²¹ And David ^H1732 came ^H935 to the two hundred ^H3967 men, ^H582 which were so faint ^H6296 that they could not follow ^{H3212 H310} David, ^H1732 whom they had made also to abide ^H3427 at the brook ^H5158 Besor: ^H1308 and they went forth ^H3318 to meet ^H7125 David, ^H1732 and to meet ^H7125 the people ^H5971 that were with him: and when David ^H1732 came near ^H5066 to the people, ^H5971 he saluted ^{H7592 H7965} them.

²² Then answered ^H6030 all the wicked ^H7451 men ^H376 and men of Belial, ^H1100 of those ^H582 that went ^H1980 with David, ^H1732 and said, ^H559 Because they went ^H1980 not with us, we will not give ^H5414 them ought of the spoil ^H7998 that we have recovered, ^H5337 save to every man ^H376 his wife ^H802 and his children, ^H1121 that they may lead them away, ^H5090 and depart. ^H3212

²³ Then said ^H559 David, ^H1732 Ye shall not do so, ^H6213 my brethren, ^H251 with that which the LORD ^H3068 hath given ^H5414 us, who hath preserved ^H8104 us, and delivered ^H5414 the company ^H1416 that came ^H935 against us into our hand. ^H3027

²⁴ For who will hearken ^H8085 unto you in this matter? ^H1697 but as his part ^H2506 is that goeth down ^{H3381 H3381} to the battle, ^H4421 so shall his part ^H2506 be that tarrieth ^H3427 by the stuff: ^H3627 they shall part ^H2505 alike. ^H3162

²⁵ And it was so from that day ^H3117 forward, ^H4605 that he made ^H7760 it a statute ^H2706 and an ordinance ^H4941 for Israel ^H3478 unto this day. ^H3117

²⁶ And when David ^H1732 came ^H935 to Ziklag, ^H6860 he sent ^H7971 of the spoil ^H7998 unto the elders ^H2205 of Judah, ^H3063 even to his friends, ^H7453 saying, ^H559 Behold a present ^H1293 for you of the spoil ^H7998 of the enemies ^H341 of the LORD; ^H3068

²⁷ To them ^H834 which were in Bethel, ^H1008 and to them which were in south ^H5045 Ramoth, ^H7418 and to them which were in Jattir, ^H3492

²⁸ And to them which were in Aroer, ^H6177 and to them which were in Siphmoth, ^H8224 and to them which were in Eshtemoa, ^H851

²⁹ And to them which were in Rachal, ^H7403 and to them which were in the cities ^H5892 of the Jerahmeelites, ^H3397 and to them which were in the cities ^H5892 of the Kenites, ^H7017

³⁰ And to them which were in Hormah, ^H2767 and to them which were in Chorashan, ^H3565 and to them which were in Athach, ^H6269

³¹ And to them which were in Hebron, ^H2275 and to all the places ^H4725 where David ^H1732 himself and his men ^H582 were wont to haunt. ^H1980

---

¹ 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,

² 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.

³ And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive.

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 captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

⁶ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.

⁷ And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

⁸ And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue; for thou shalt surely overtake `them', and shalt 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 stayed.

¹⁰ But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed 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 did eat; and they gave him water to drink.

¹² And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

¹³ And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.

¹⁴ We made a raid upon the South of the Cherethites, and upon that which belongeth to Judah, and upon the South of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

¹⁵ And David said to him, Wilt thou bring me down to this troop? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this troop.

¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the ground, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

¹⁷ And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, who rode upon camels and fled.

¹⁸ And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.

¹⁹ And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David brought back all.

²⁰ And David took all the flocks and the herds, `which' they drove before those `other' cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

²¹ And David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

²² Then answered all the wicked men and base fellows, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them aught of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that he may lead them away, and depart.

²³ Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which Jehovah hath given unto us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.

²⁴ And who will hearken unto you in this matter? for as his share is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his share be that tarrieth by the baggage: they shall share alike.

²⁵ And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

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:

²⁷ To them that were in Beth-el, and to them that were in Ramoth of the South, and to them that were in Jattir,

²⁸ and to them that were in Aroer, and to them that were in Siphmoth, and to them that were in Eshtemoa,

²⁹ and to them that were in Racal, and to them that were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them that were in the cities of the Kenites,

³⁰ and to them that were in Hormah, and to them that were in Bor-ashan, and to them that were in Athach,

³¹ and to them that were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

---

¹ And it cometh to pass, in the coming in of David and his men to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites have pushed unto the south, and unto Ziklag, and smite Ziklag, and burn it with fire,

² and they take captive the women who `are' in it; from small unto great they have not put any one to death, and they lead away, and go on their way.

³ And David cometh in -- and his men -- unto the city, and lo, burnt with fire, and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters have been taken captive!

⁴ And David lifteth up -- and the people who `are' with him -- their voice and weep, till that they have no power to weep.

⁵ And the two wives of David have been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite;

⁶ and David hath great distress, for the people have said to stone him, for the soul of all the people hath been bitter, each for his sons and for his daughters; and David doth strengthen himself in Jehovah his God.

⁷ And David saith unto Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, `Bring nigh, I pray thee, to me the ephod;' and Abiathar bringeth nigh the ephod unto David,

⁸ and David asketh at Jehovah, saying, `I pursue after this troop -- do I overtake it?' And He saith to him, `Pursue, for thou dost certainly overtake, and dost certainly deliver.'

⁹ And David goeth on, he and six hundred men who `are' with him, and they come in unto the brook of Besor, and those left have stood still,

¹⁰ and David pursueth, he and four hundred men, (and two hundred men stand still who have been too faint to pass over the brook of Besor),

¹¹ and they find a man, an Egyptian, in the field, and take him unto David, and give to him bread, and he eateth, and they cause him to drink water,

¹² and give to him a piece of a bunch of dried figs, and two bunches of raisins, and he eateth, and his spirit returneth unto him, for he hath not eaten bread nor drunk water three days and three nights.

¹³ And David saith to him, `Whose `art' thou? and whence `art' thou?' And he saith, `An Egyptian youth I `am', servant to a man, an Amalekite, and my lord forsaketh me, for I have been sick three days,

¹⁴ we pushed `to' the south of the Cherethite, and against that which `is' to Judah, and against the south of Caleb, and Ziklag we burned with fire.'

¹⁵ And David saith unto him, `Dost thou bring me down unto this troop?' and he saith, `Swear to me by God -- thou dost not put me to death, nor dost thou shut me up into the hand of my lord -- and I bring thee down unto this troop.'

¹⁶ And he bringeth him down, and lo, they are spread out over the face of all the earth, eating, and drinking, and feasting, with all the great spoil which they have taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

¹⁷ And David smiteth them from the twilight even unto the evening of the morrow, and there hath not escaped of them a man, except four hundred young men who have ridden on the camels, and are fled.

¹⁸ And David delivereth all that the Amalekites have taken; also his two wives hath David delivered.

¹⁹ And there hath not lacked to them `anything', from small unto great, and unto sons and daughters, and from the spoil, even unto all that they had taken to themselves, the whole hath David brought back,

²⁰ and David taketh the whole of the flock, and of the herd, they have led on before these cattle, and they say, `This `is' David's spoil.'

²¹ And David cometh in unto the two hundred men who were too faint to go after David, and whom they cause to abide at the brook of Besor, and they go out to meet David, and to meet the people who `are' with him, and David approacheth the people, and asketh of them of welfare.

²² And every bad and worthless man, of the men who have gone with David, answereth, yea, they say, `Because that they have not gone with us we do not give to them of the spoil which we have delivered, except each his wife and his children, and they lead away and go.

²³ And David saith, `Ye do not do so, my brethren, with that which Jehovah hath given to us, and He doth preserve us, and doth give the troop which cometh against us into our hand;

²⁴ and who doth hearken to you in this thing? for as the portion of him who was brought down into battle, so also `is' the portion of him who is abiding by the vessels -- alike they share.'

²⁵ And it cometh to pass from that day and forward, that he appointeth it for a statute and for an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

²⁶ And David cometh in unto Ziklag, and sendeth of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, (saying, `Lo, for you a blessing, of the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah),'

²⁷ to those in Beth-El, and to those in South Ramoth, and to those in Jattir,

²⁸ and to those in Aroer, and to those in Siphmoth, and to those in Eshtemoa,

²⁹ and to those in Rachal, and to those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those in the cities of the Kenites,

³⁰ and to those in Hormah, and to those in Chor-Ashan, and to those in Athach,

³¹ and to those in Hebron, and to all the places where David had gone up and down, he and his men.

---

¹ And it came to pass, when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the south, and upon Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag and burned it with fire;

² and had taken the women captives that were in it; both great and small: they had put none to death, but had carried them off, and went on their way.

³ And David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burnt 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 Jizreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

⁶ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him; for the soul of all the people was embittered, every man because of his sons and because of his daughters; but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.

⁷ And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, Bring near to me, I pray thee, the ephod. And Abiathar brought the ephod near to David.

⁸ And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he said to him, Pursue; for thou shalt assuredly overtake [them] and shalt certainly recover.

⁹ So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and they came to the torrent Besor; and those that were left stayed behind.

¹⁰ And David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to go over the torrent Besor.

¹¹ And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate; and they gave him water to drink,

¹² and gave him a piece of fig-cake and two raisin-cakes, and he ate, and his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, for three days and three nights.

¹³ And David said to him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.

¹⁴ We made a raid against the south of the Cherethites, and against what [belongs] to Judah, and against the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

¹⁵ And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this troop? And he said, Swear to me by God, that thou wilt neither put me to death nor deliver me up into the hand of my master, and I will bring thee down to this troop.

¹⁶ And he brought him down, and behold, they were spread over the whole land, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

¹⁷ And David smote them from the twilight even to the evening of the next day; and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, who rode upon camels, and fled.

¹⁸ And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken: and David recovered his two wives.

¹⁹ And there was nothing missed by them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor anything that they had taken: David brought all back.

²⁰ And David took all the flocks and the herds, [which] they drove before the other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

²¹ And David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and whom they had left behind at the torrent Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him; and David drew near to the people and saluted them.

²² And all the wicked men, and [men] of Belial, of those that had gone with David, answered and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them [aught] of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead [them] away and depart.

²³ Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which Jehovah has given us, who has preserved us, and given the troop that came against us into our hand.

²⁴ And who will hearken to you in this matter? For as his share is that goes down to the battle, so shall his share be that abides by the baggage: they shall share alike.

²⁵ And it was [so] from that day forward; and he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

²⁶ And David came to Ziklag, and he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah:

²⁷ to those in Bethel, and to those in south Ramoth, and to those in Jattir,

²⁸ and to those in Aroer, and to those in Siphmoth, and to those in Eshtemoa,

²⁹ and to those in Rachal, and to those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those in the cities of the Kenites,

³⁰ and to those in Hormah, and to those in Chor-ashan, and to those in Athach,

³¹ and to those in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men went about.

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¹ It happened, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South, and on Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag, and burned it with fire,

² and had taken captive the women [and all] who were therein, both small and great: they didn't kill any, but carried them off, and went their way.

³ When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive.

⁴ Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

⁵ David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

⁶ 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 strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.

⁷ David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, Please bring me here the ephod. Abiathar brought there the ephod to David.

⁸ David inquired of Yahweh, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? He answered him, Pursue; for you shall surely overtake [them], and shall without fail recover [all].

⁹ So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.

¹⁰ But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they couldn't go over the brook Besor.

¹¹ They found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate; and they gave him water to drink.

¹² They gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

¹³ David said to him, To whom belong you? and whence are you? He said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.

¹⁴ We made a raid on the South of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the South of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

¹⁵ David said to him, Will you bring me down to this troop? He said, Swear to me by God, that you will neither kill me, nor deliver me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this troop.

¹⁶ When he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the ground, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

¹⁷ David struck them from the twilight even to the evening of the next day: and there not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who rode on camels and fled.

¹⁸ David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.

¹⁹ There was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David brought back all.

²⁰ David took all the flocks and the herds, [which] they drove before those [other] cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

²¹ David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people who were with him: and when David came near to the people, he greeted them.

²² Then answered all the wicked men and base fellows, of those who went with David, and said, Because they didn't go with us, we will not give them anything of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that he may lead them away, and depart.

²³ Then said David, You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which Yahweh has given to us, who has preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.

²⁴ Who will listen to you in this matter? for as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who tarries by the baggage: they shall share alike.

²⁵ It was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

²⁶ When David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold, a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of Yahweh:

²⁷ To those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the South, and to those who were in Jattir,

²⁸ and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa,

²⁹ and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,

³⁰ and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Borashan, and to those who were in Athach,

³¹ and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men used to stay.

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¹ Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made an attack on the South and on Ziklag, and had overcome Ziklag and put it on fire;

² And had made the women and all who were there, small and great, prisoners: they had not put any of them to death, but had taken them all away.

³ And when David and his men came to the town, they saw that it had been burned down, and their wives and their sons and daughters had been made prisoners.

⁴ Then David and the people who were with him gave themselves up to weeping till they were able to go on weeping no longer.

⁵ And David's two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel, had been made prisoners.

⁶ And David was greatly troubled; for the people were talking of stoning him, because their hearts were bitter, every man sorrowing for his sons and his daughters: but David made himself strong in the Lord his God.

⁷ And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, Come here to me with the ephod. And Abiathar took the ephod to David.

⁸ Then David, questioning the Lord, said, Am I to go after this band? will I be able to overtake them? And in answer he said, Go after them, for you will certainly overtake them, and get back everything.

⁹ So David went, and his six hundred men went with him, and they came to the stream Besor.

¹⁰ And David, with four hundred men, went on: but two hundred of them were overcome with weariness, and not able to go across the stream.

¹¹ And in the fields they saw an Egyptian whom they took to David, and they gave him bread, and he had a meal, and they gave him water for drink;

¹² And they gave him part of a cake of figs and some dry grapes; and after the food, his spirit came back to him, for he had had no food or drink for three days and nights.

¹³ And David said to him, Whose man are you and where do you come from? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master went on without me because three days back I became ill.

¹⁴ We made an attack on the south part of the country of the Cherethites, and on the land which is Judah's, and on the south of Caleb; and we put Ziklag on fire.

¹⁵ And David said to him, Will you take me down to this band? And he said, If you give me your oath that you will not put me to death or give me up to my master, I will take you to them.

¹⁶ And when he had taken him down, they saw them all, seated about on all sides, feasting and drinking among all the mass of goods which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah.

¹⁷ And David went on fighting them from evening till the evening of the day after; and not one of them got away but only four hundred young men who went in flight on camels.

¹⁸ And David got back everything the Amalekites had taken; and he got back his two wives.

¹⁹ There was no loss of anything, small or great, sons or daughters or goods or anything which they had taken away: David got it all back.

²⁰ And they took all the flocks and herds, and driving them in front of him, said, These are David's.

²¹ And David came to the two hundred men, who because of weariness had not gone with him, but were waiting at the stream Besor: and they went out, meeting David and the people who were with him; and when they came near them, they said, How are you?

²² Then the bad and good-for-nothing men among those who went with David said, Because they did not go with us, we will give them nothing of the goods which we have got back, but only to every man his wife and children, so that he may take them and go.

²³ Then David said, You are not to do this, my brothers, after what the Lord has given us, who has kept us safe and given up the band which came against us into our hands.

²⁴ Who is going to give any attention to you in this question? for an equal part will be given to him who went to the fight and to him who was waiting by the goods: they are all to have the same.

²⁵ And so he made it a rule and an order for Israel from that day till now.

²⁶ And when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the goods to the responsible men of Judah, and to his friends, saying, Here is an offering for you from the goods of those who were fighting against the Lord;

²⁷ He sent to those who were in Beth-el, and in Ramah of the South, and in Jattir;

²⁸ And to those in Arara and Eshtemoa

²⁹ and Carmel and in the towns of the Jerahmeelites, and in the towns of the Kenites;

³⁰ And to those who were in Hormah and in Bor-ashan and in Athach;

³¹ And in Hebron, and to all the places where David and his men had been living.