1 And it came to pass, when David{H1732} and his men{H582} were come{H935}{(H8800)} to Ziklag{H6860} on the third{H7992} day{H3117}, that the Amalekites{H6003} had invaded{H6584}{(H8804)} the south{H5045}, and Ziklag{H6860}, and smitten{H5221}{(H8686)} Ziklag{H6860}, and burned{H8313}{(H8799)} it with fire{H784};

2 And had taken the women{H802} captives{H7617}{(H8799)}, that were therein: they slew{H4191}{(H8689)} not any{H376}, either great{H1419} or small{H6996}, but carried them away{H5090}{(H8799)}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} on their way{H1870}.

3 So David{H1732} and his men{H582} came{H935}{(H8799)} to the city{H5892}, and, behold, it was burned{H8313}{(H8803)} with fire{H784}; and their wives{H802}, and their sons{H1121}, and their daughters{H1323}, were taken captives{H7617}{(H8738)}.

4 Then David{H1732} and the people{H5971} that were with him lifted up{H5375}{(H8799)} their voice{H6963} and wept{H1058}{(H8799)}, until they had no more power{H3581} to weep{H1058}{(H8800)}.

5 And David's{H1732} two{H8147} wives{H802} were taken captives{H7617}{(H8738)}, 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}{(H8799)}; for the people{H5971} spake{H559}{(H8804)} of stoning{H5619}{(H8800)} him, because the soul{H5315} of all the people{H5971} was grieved{H4843}{(H8804)}, every man{H376} for his sons{H1121} and for his daughters{H1323}: but David{H1732} encouraged{H2388}{(H8691)} himself in the LORD{H3068} his God{H430}.

7 And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} to Abiathar{H54} the priest{H3548}, Ahimelech's{H288} son{H1121}, I pray thee, bring me hither{H5066}{(H8685)} the ephod{H646}. And Abiathar{H54} brought{H5066}{(H8686)} thither the ephod{H646} to David{H1732}.

8 And David{H1732} enquired{H7592}{(H8799)} at the LORD{H3068}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Shall I pursue{H7291}{(H8799)} after{H310} this troop{H1416}? shall I overtake{H5381}{(H8686)} them? And he answered{H559}{(H8799)} him, Pursue{H7291}{(H8798)}: for thou shalt surely{H5381}{(H8687)} overtake{H5381}{(H8686)} them, and without fail{H5337}{(H8687)} recover{H5337}{(H8686)} all.

9 So David{H1732} went{H3212}{(H8799)}, he and the six{H8337} hundred{H3967} men{H376} that were with him, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to the brook{H5158} Besor{H1308}, where those that were left behind{H3498}{(H8737)} stayed{H5975}{(H8804)}.

10 But David{H1732} pursued{H7291}{(H8799)}, he and four{H702} hundred{H3967} men{H376}: for two hundred{H3967} abode behind{H5975}{(H8799)}, which were so faint{H6296}{(H8765)} that they could not go over{H5674}{(H8800)} the brook{H5158} Besor{H1308}.

11 And they found{H4672}{(H8799)} an Egyptian{H376}{H4713} in the field{H7704}, and brought{H3947}{(H8799)} him to David{H1732}, and gave{H5414}{(H8799)} him bread{H3899}, and he did eat{H398}{(H8799)}; and they made him drink{H8248}{(H8686)} water{H4325};

12 And they gave{H5414}{(H8799)} him a piece{H6400} of a cake{H1690} of figs, and two{H8147} clusters of raisins{H6778}: and when he had eaten{H398}{(H8799)}, his spirit{H7307} came again{H7725}{(H8799)} to him: for he had eaten{H398}{(H8804)} no bread{H3899}, nor drunk{H8354}{(H8804)} any water{H4325}, three{H7969} days{H3117} and three{H7969} nights{H3915}.

13 And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, I am a young man{H5288} of Egypt{H4713}, servant{H5650} to an Amalekite{H376}{H6003}; and my master{H113} left{H5800}{(H8799)} me, because three{H7969} days{H3117} agone I fell sick{H2470}{(H8804)}.

14 We made an invasion{H6584}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8804)} Ziklag{H6860} with fire{H784}.

15 And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} to him, Canst thou bring me down{H3381}{(H8686)} to this company{H1416}? And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Swear{H7650}{(H8734)} unto me by God{H430}, that thou wilt neither kill{H4191}{(H8686)} me, nor{H518} deliver{H5462}{(H8686)} me into the hands{H3027} of my master{H113}, and I will bring thee down{H3381}{(H8686)} to this company{H1416}.

16 And when he had brought him down{H3381}{(H8686)}, behold, they were spread abroad{H5203}{(H8803)} upon all{H6440} the earth{H776}, eating{H398}{(H8802)} and drinking{H8354}{(H8802)}, and dancing{H2287}{(H8802)}, because of all the great{H1419} spoil{H7998} that they had taken{H3947}{(H8804)} out of the land{H776} of the Philistines{H6430}, and out of the land{H776} of Judah{H3063}.

17 And David{H1732} smote{H5221}{(H8686)} them from the twilight{H5399} even unto the evening{H6153} of the next day{H4283}: and there escaped{H4422}{(H8738)} not a man{H376} of them, save four{H702} hundred{H3967} young{H5288} men{H376}, which rode{H7392}{(H8804)} upon camels{H1581}, and fled{H5127}{(H8799)}.

18 And David{H1732} recovered{H5337}{(H8686)} all that the Amalekites{H6002} had carried away{H3947}{(H8804)}: and David{H1732} rescued{H5337}{(H8689)} his two{H8147} wives{H802}.

19 And there was nothing lacking{H5737}{(H8738)} 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}{(H8804)} to them: David{H1732} recovered{H7725}{(H8689)} all.

20 And David{H1732} took{H3947}{(H8799)} all the flocks{H6629} and the herds{H1241}, which they drave{H5090}{(H8804)} before{H6440} those{H1931} other cattle{H4735}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, This is David's{H1732} spoil{H7998}.

21 And David{H1732} came{H935}{(H8799)} to the two hundred{H3967} men{H582}, which were so faint{H6296}{(H8765)} that they could not follow{H3212}{(H8800)}{H310} David{H1732}, whom they had made also to abide{H3427}{(H8686)} at the brook{H5158} Besor{H1308}: and they went forth{H3318}{(H8799)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} David{H1732}, and to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} the people{H5971} that were with him: and when David{H1732} came near{H5066}{(H8799)} to the people{H5971}, he saluted{H7592}{(H8799)}{H7965} them.

22 Then answered{H6030}{(H8799)} all the wicked{H7451} men{H376} and men of Belial{H1100}, of those{H582} that went{H1980}{(H8804)} with David{H1732}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Because they went{H1980}{(H8804)} not with us, we will not give{H5414}{(H8799)} them ought of the spoil{H7998} that we have recovered{H5337}{(H8689)}, save to every man{H376} his wife{H802} and his children{H1121}, that they may lead them away{H5090}{(H8799)}, and depart{H3212}{(H8799)}.

23 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} David{H1732}, Ye shall not do so{H6213}{(H8799)}, my brethren{H251}, with that which the LORD{H3068} hath given{H5414}{(H8804)} us, who hath preserved{H8104}{(H8799)} us, and delivered{H5414}{(H8799)} the company{H1416} that came{H935}{(H8802)} against us into our hand{H3027}.

24 For who will hearken{H8085}{(H8799)} unto you in this matter{H1697}? but as his part{H2506} is that goeth down{H3381}{(H8802)}{(H8675)}{H3381}{(H8717)} to the battle{H4421}, so shall his part{H2506} be that tarrieth{H3427}{(H8802)} by the stuff{H3627}: they shall part{H2505}{(H8799)} alike{H3162}.

25 And it was so from that day{H3117} forward{H4605}, that he made{H7760}{(H8799)} it a statute{H2706} and an ordinance{H4941} for Israel{H3478} unto this day{H3117}.

26 And when David{H1732} came{H935}{(H8799)} to Ziklag{H6860}, he sent{H7971}{(H8762)} of the spoil{H7998} unto the elders{H2205} of Judah{H3063}, even to his friends{H7453}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Behold a present{H1293} for you of the spoil{H7998} of the enemies{H341}{(H8802)} 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}{(H8694)}.