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,
29. Racal, the cities of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites,
30. Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach,
31. Hebron, and to the people in all the other places where he and his men had been.