4. David and his men started crying and did not stop until they were completely exhausted.
5. Even David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had been taken away.
6. David was now in great trouble, because his men were all very bitter about losing their children, and they were threatening to stone him; but the Lord his God gave him courage.
7. David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod,” and Abiathar brought it to him.
8. David asked the Lord, “Shall I go after those raiders? And will I catch them?”He answered, “Go after them; you will catch them and rescue the captives.”
9. So David and his 600 men started out, and when they arrived at the brook of Besor, some of them stayed there.
10. David continued on his way with 400 men; the other 200 men were too tired to cross the brook and so stayed behind.
11. The men with David found an Egyptian out in the country and brought him to David. They gave him some food and water,
12. some dried figs, and two bunches of raisins. After he had eaten, his strength returned; he had not had anything to eat or drink for three full days.
13. David asked him, “Who is your master, and where are you from?”“I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite,” he answered. “My master left me behind three days ago because I was ill.
14. We had raided the territory of the Cherethites in the southern part of Judah and the territory of the clan of Caleb, and we burnt down Ziklag.”
15. “Will you lead me to those raiders?” David asked him.He answered, “I will if you promise me in God's name that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master.”
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.