12. some dried figs, and two bunches of raisins. After he had eaten, his strength returned; he had not had anything to eat or drink for three full days.
13. David asked him, “Who is your master, and where are you from?”“I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite,” he answered. “My master left me behind three days ago because I was ill.
14. We had raided the territory of the Cherethites in the southern part of Judah and the territory of the clan of Caleb, and we burnt down Ziklag.”
15. “Will you lead me to those raiders?” David asked him.He answered, “I will if you promise me in God's name that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master.”
16. And he led David to them.The raiders were scattered all over the place, eating, drinking, and celebrating because of the enormous amount of loot they had captured from Philistia and Judah.
17. At dawn the next day David attacked them and fought until evening. Except for 400 young men who mounted camels and got away, none of them escaped.
18. David rescued everyone and everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives;
19. nothing at all was missing. David got back all his men's sons and daughters, and all the loot the Amalekites had taken.
20. He also recovered all the flocks and herds; his men drove all the livestock in front of them and said, “This belongs to David!”
21. Then David went back to the 200 men who had been too weak to go with him and had stayed behind at the brook of Besor. They came forward to meet David and his men, and David went up to them and greeted them warmly.
22. But some mean and worthless men who had gone with David said, “They didn't go with us, and so we won't give them any of the loot. They can take their wives and children and go away.”
23. But David answered, “My brothers, you can't do this with what the Lord has given us! He kept us safe and gave us victory over the raiders.
24. No one can agree with what you say! All must share alike: whoever stays behind with the supplies gets the same share as the one who goes into battle.”
25. David made this a rule, and it has been followed in Israel ever since.
26. When David returned to Ziklag, he sent part of the loot to his friends, the leaders of Judah, with the message, “Here is a present for you from the loot we took from the Lord's enemies.”