1 Samuel 30:1-10
1 David and his men a arrived in Ziklag b on the third day. The Amalekites c had raided the ▼▼Negev: An >arid region in the southern part of Israel; the Hebrew word means "south".
Negev and attacked and burned down Ziklag. 2They also had kidnapped the women and everyone ▼▼LXX; MT omits and everyone
in it from the youngest to the oldest. They had killed no one but had carried them off f as they went on their way. 3When David and his men arrived at the town, they found it burned down. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been kidnapped. 4 David and the troops with him wept loudly until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives, g Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had also been kidnapped. 6 David was in a difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him, h for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. i 7 David said to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ▼▼ephod: A vestlike garment, extending below the waist and worn under the breastpiece, which was used by both the priests and the high priest
ephod.” k So Abiathar brought it to him, 8and David asked the Lord: l “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” mThe Lord replied to him, “Pursue them, for you will certainly overtake them and rescue the people.” n 9 David and the 600 men with him o went as far as the ▼▼wadi: A seasonal stream that flows only in the rainy season
Wadi Besor, where 200 men who were to remain behind would stop. q 10They stopped because they were too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor. David and 400 of the men continued in pursuit.
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