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 Beth-el, 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 Chor-ashan, 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.

1And it came to passe when Dauid and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had inuaded the South and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burnt it with fire:

2And had taken the women captiues, that were therein; they slewe not any either great or smal, but caried them away, and went on their way.

3 So Dauid and his men came to the citie, and beholde, it was burnt with fire, and their wiues, and their sonnes, and their daughters were taken captiues.

4Then Dauid and the people that were with him, lift vp their voice, and wept, vntill they had no more power to weepe.

5And Dauids two wiues were taken captiues, Ahinoam the Iezreelitesse, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

6And Dauid was greatly distressed: for the people spake of stoning him, because the soule of all the people was grieued, euery man for his sonnes, and for his daughters: but Dauid encouraged himselfe in the Lord his God.

7And Dauid said to Abiathar the Priest Ahimelechs sonne, I pray thee, bring mee hither the Ephod: and Abiathar brought thither the Ephod to Dauid.

8And Dauid enquired at the Lord, saying; Shall I pursue after this troupe? shall I ouertake them? And he answered him, Pursue, for thou shalt surely ouertake them, and without faile recouer all.

9So Dauid went, hee, and the sixe hundred men that were with him, and came to the brooke Besor, where those that were left behinde, stayed.

10But Dauid pursued, he and foure hundred men: (for two hundred abode behinde, which were so faint that they could not goe ouer the brooke Besor.)

11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to Dauid, and gaue him bread, and he did eate, and they made him drinke water.

12And they gaue him a piece of a cake of figges, and two clusters of raisins: and when hee had eaten, his spirit came againe to him: for hee had eaten no bread, nor drunke any water, three dayes and three nights.

13And Dauid sayde vnto him, To whome belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a yong man of Egypt, seruant to an Amalekite, and my master left me, because three dayes agone I fell sicke.

14Wee made an inuasion vpon the South of the Cherethites, and vpon the coast which belongeth to Iudah, and vpon the South of Caleb, and wee burnt Ziklag with fire.

15And Dauid sayde to him, Canst thou bring me downe to this company? And he said, Sweare vnto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliuer mee into the handes of my master, and I will bring thee downe to this company.

16 And when he had brought him downe, behold, they were spread abroad vpon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dauncing, because of all the great spoile that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Iudah.

17And Dauid smote them from the twilight, euen vnto the euening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, saue foure hundred yong men which rode vpon camels, and fled.

18And Dauid recouered all that the Amalekites had caried away: and Dauid rescued his two wiues.

19And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sonnes nor daughters, neither spoile, nor any thing that they had taken to them: Dauid recouered all.

20And Dauid tooke all the flockes, and the herds, which they draue before those other cattell, and said, This is Dauids spoile.

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

22Then answered all the wicked men, and men of Belial, of those that went with Dauid, and said, Because they went not with vs, we wil not giue them ought of the spoile, that wee haue recouered, saue to euery man his wife and his children, that they may leade them away, and depart.

23Then said Dauid, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath giuen vs, who hath preserued vs, and deliuered the companie that came against vs, into our hand.

24For who will hearken vnto you in this matter? But as his part is that goeth downe to the battell, so shall his part bee that tarieth by the stuffe: they shall part alike.

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

26 And when Dauid came to Ziklag, hee sent of the spoile vnto the Elders of Iudah, euen to his friends, (saying, Behold a Present for you, of the spoile of the enemies of the Lord )

27To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in South Ramoth, and to them which were in Iattir,

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

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

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

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

I == 1st Sam 15:7 ; 27:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V == 1st Sam 25:42-43 ; 2nd Sam 2:2

 

VI == Ex 17:4 ; Ps 42:5 ; 56:3-4 , 11 ; Hab 3:17-18

 

 

VII == 1st Sam 23:6 , 9

 

VIII == 1st Sam 23:2 , 4

 

 

 

 

 

X == 1st Sam 30:21

 

 

 

 

 

XII == Judg 15:19 ; 1st Sam 14:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == Josh 14:13 ; 15:13 ; 1st Sam 30:16 ; 2nd Sam 8:18 ; 1st Kings 1:38 , 44 ; Ezek 25:16 ; Zeph 2:5

 

 

 

XVI == 1st Thess 5:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == 1st Sam 30:8

 

 

 

 

XXI == 1st Sam 30:10

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == Deut 13:13 ; Judg 19:22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIV == Num 31:27 ; Josh 22:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == Josh 15:48 ; 19:8

 

XXVIII == Josh 13:16 ; Josh 15:50

 

XXIX == Judg 1:16 ; 1st Sam 27:10

 

XXX == Judg 1:17

XXXI == Josh 14:13 ; 2Sam 2:1

 

1 Before David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day, the Amaleites had raided the Negeb and Ziklag, had stormed the city, and had set it on fire.

2 They had taken captive the women and all who were in the city, young and old, killing no one; they had carried them off when they left.

3 David and his men arrived at the city to find it burned to the ground and their wives, sons and daughters taken captive.

4 Then David and those who were with him wept aloud until they could weep no more.

5 David's two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, had also been carried off with the rest.

6 Now David found himself in great difficulty, for the men spoke of stoning him, so bitter were they over the fate of their sons and daughters. But with renewed trust in the LORD his God,

7 David said to Abiathar, the priest, son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod!" When Abiathar brought him the ephod,

8 David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue these raiders? Can I overtake them?" The LORD answered him, "Go in pursuit, for you shall surely overtake them and effect a rescue."

9 So David went off with his six hundred men and came as far as the Wadi Besor, where those who were to remain behind halted.

10 David continued the pursuit with four hundred men, but two hundred were too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor and remained behind.

11 An Egyptian was found in the open country and brought to David. He was provided with food, which he ate, and given water to drink;

12 a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of pressed raisins were also offered to him. When he had eaten, he revived; he had not taken food nor drunk water for three days and three nights.

13 Then David asked him, "To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?" He replied: "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me because I fell sick three days ago today.

14 We raided the Negeb of the Cherethites, the territory of Judah, and the Negeb of Caleb; and we set Ziklag on fire."

15 David then asked him, "Will you lead me down to this raiding party?" He answered, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me to my master, and I will lead you to the raiding party."

16 He did lead them, and there were the Amalekites scattered all over the ground, eating, drinking, and in a festive mood because of all the rich booty they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

17 From dawn to sundown David attacked them, putting them under the ban so that none escaped except four hundred young men, who mounted their camels and fled.

18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives.

19 Nothing was missing, small or great, booty or sons or daughters, of all that the Amalekites had taken. David brought back everything.

20 Moreover, David took all the sheep and oxen, and as they drove these before him, they shouted, "This is David's spoil!"

21 When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him, and whom he had left behind at the Wadi Besor, they came out to meet David and the men with him. On nearing them David greeted them.

22 But all the stingy and worthless men among those who had accompanied David spoke up to say, "Since they did not accompany us, we will not give them anything from the booty, except to each man his wife and children. Let them take those along and be on their way."

23 But David said: "You must not do this, my brothers, after what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our grip the band that came against us.

24 Who could agree with this proposal of yours? Rather, the share of the one who goes down to battle and that of the one who remains with the baggage shall be the same; they shall share alike."

25 And from that day forward he made it a law and a custom in Israel, as it still is today.

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to the elders of Judah, city by city, saying, "This is a gift to you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD":

27 to those in Bethel, to those in Ramoth-negeb, to those in Jattir,

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

29 to those in Racal, to those in the Jerahmeelite cities, to those in the Kenite cities,

30 to those in Hormah, to those in Borashan, to those in Athach,

31 to those in Hebron, and to all the places frequented by David and his men.

v 1,2. It may have been 80 miles or more from the battle area to Ziklag, and since this was not a forced march, they didn’t get back till some time on the third day to find out what the Amalekites had done.

v 3-6. Finding the city burned and nothing left, they had no idea of the fate of their families and all were in deep grief. The first impulse was to blame David and kill him for taking them off on this wild goose chase.  He did not retaliate against the leaders, of the rebellion, but  exhibited patience and his own faith.

 

 

 

v 7-10. David did the right thing in inquiring of the Lord, and the word that all would be recovered quickly encouraged everyone. He also did the right thing in permitting the 200 exhausted men to stay at the Brook Besor. Verse 9 states that he had 600 total. However, we learn from 1 Chr. 12:1-20 that In addition to the 400 who had been with him and who were stronger to cross over and continue the pursuit, David had help from some mighty men who had defected to him, including some from Manasseh. These weren’t mentioned here as they would have been individual new volunteers, so were not experiencing the grief of the 600. Probably the thousands of Manasseh listed in 1 Chr. 12:20 did not join David till he came to claim the throne. 

v 11-15. When the Egyptian servant of an Amalekite fell sick, he was simply left to die. After David revived him with food and water, which he had not had for three days and nights, he told about the invasion and burning of Ziklag. He agreed to show David where the company of people were only if he was not turned over to his master.

v 16-20. David made a surprise attack while they were celebrating and killed all the enemy but the 400 who escaped on camels. Every person was rescued unharmed with their possessions, plus cattle and spoils which had been captured other places.  That captured from others, David called his spoil, so he could regulate how it was distributed.

v 21-25. Some of the greedy men wanted to keep the spoils and only give back the wives and children of those who had been too weak to cross over Bezor. However, David reminded them that the Lord had delivered them. He established a principal that became law, that after a battle, there would be equal division to those who were in the battle as well as to those who stayed by the supplies.

v 26-31. David then made a wise diplomatic move. He gave gifts from spoils to all the cities and areas from which the Amalekites had stolen and those who had been kind to him. This ingratiated them to him forever. In this list of towns which received gifts, notice that no gifts were sent to Keilah or the Ziphites. He did not punish them, but he made them aware that they had lost privileges.