13. David asked him, “Who is your master? Where do you come from?”He answered, “I’m an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. Three days ago my master left me, because I was sick.
14. We had raided the southern area of the Kerethites, the land of Judah, and the southern area of Caleb. We burned Ziklag, as well.”
15. David asked him, “Can you lead me to the people who took our families?”He answered, “Yes, if you promise me before God that you won’t kill me or give me back to my master. Then I will take you to them.”
16. So the Egyptian led David to the Amalekites. They were lying around on the ground, eating and drinking and celebrating with the things they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.
17. David fought them from sunset until the evening of the next day. None of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode off on their camels.
18. David got his two wives back and everything the Amalekites had taken.
19. Nothing was missing. David brought back everyone, young and old, sons and daughters. He recovered the valuable things and everything the Amalekites had taken.
20. David took all the sheep and cattle, and his men made these animals go in front, saying, “They are David’s prize.”
21. Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too tired to follow him, who had stayed at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. When he came near, David greeted the men at the ravine.
22. But the evil men and troublemakers among those who followed David said, “Since these two hundred men didn’t go with us, we shouldn’t give them any of the things we recovered. Just let each man take his wife and children and go.”
23. David answered, “No, my brothers. Don’t do that after what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and given us the enemy who attacked us.
24. Who will listen to what you say? The share will be the same for the one who stayed with the supplies as for the one who went into battle. All will share alike.”
25. David made this an order and rule for Israel, which continues even today.
26. When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the things he had taken from the Amalekites to his friends, the leaders of Judah. He said, “Here is a present for you from the things we took from the Lord’s enemies.”
27. David also sent some things to the leaders in Bethel, Ramoth in the southern part of Judah, Jattir,
28. Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa,