18. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives.
19. Nothing was missing, small or great, plunder 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 plunder!”
21. When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him, whom he had left behind at the Wadi Besor, they came out to meet David and the men with him. As David approached, he greeted them.
22. But all the greedy and worthless among those who had accompanied David said, “Since they did not accompany us, we will not give them anything from the plunder, except for each man’s wife and children.”
23. But David said: “You must not do this, my brothers, after what the Lord has given us. The Lord has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiders that came against us.
24. Who could agree with this proposal of yours? Rather, the share of the one who goes down to battle shall be the same as that of the one who remains with the baggage—they share alike.”
25. And from that day forward he made this a law and a custom in Israel, as it still is today.
26. When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “This is a gift to you from the plunder of the enemies of the Lord,” namely,
27. to those in Bethel, Ramoth-negeb, Jattir,
28. Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa,
29. Racal, Jerahmeelite cities and Kenite cities,
30. Hormah, Borashan, Athach,
31. Hebron, and to all the places that David and his men had frequented.