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.