18. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken; he also rescued his two wives.
19. Nothing of theirs was missing from the youngest to the oldest, including the sons and daughters, of all the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David got everything back.
20. He took all the sheep and cattle, which were driven ahead of the other livestock, and the people shouted, “This is David’s plunder! ”
21. When David came to the 200 men who had been too exhausted to go with him and had been left at the Wadi Besor, they came out to meet him and to meet the troops with him. When David approached the men, he greeted them,
22. but all the corrupt and worthless men among those who had gone with David argued, “Because they didn’t go with us, we will not give any of the plunder we recovered to them except for each man’s wife and children. They may take them and go.”
23. But David said, “My brothers, you must not do this with what the Lord has given us. He protected us and handed over to us the raiders who came against us.
24. Who can agree to your proposal? The share of the one who goes into battle is to be the same as the share of the one who remains with the supplies. They will share equally.”
25. And it has been so from that day forward. David established this policy as a law and an ordinance for Israel and it continues to this very day.
26. When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.”
27. He sent gifts to those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negev, and in Jattir;
28. to those in Aroer, in Siphmoth, and in Eshtemoa;
29. to those in Racal, in the towns of the Jerahmeelites, and in the towns of the Kenites;
30. to those in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, and in Athach;
31. to those in Hebron, and to those in all the places where David and his men had roamed.