1. And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
2. And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
3. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
4. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.
6. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
7. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray you, bring me here the ephod. And Abiathar brought there the ephod to David.
8. And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him,
9. So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
10. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, who were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.