21. Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David; they had left them behind at the Wadi Besor. They went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. David came near with the people and asked them how they were doing.
22. Then all the corrupt and useless men among the men who went with David reacted and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them anything from the plunder which we recovered, except each man may take his own wife and children. They must take them along and go!”
23. But David said to them, “You should not do so, my brothers, with what Yahweh has given to us! He has preserved us and has given the raiding band that came against us into our hand.
24. And who would listen to you regarding this matter? For as the share of the one who went down into the battle, so the share of the one who remained with the baggage will be. They will share alike.”
25. So from that day and beyond, he made it a rule and a regulation for Israel until this day.
26. Then David came to Ziklag, and he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the enemies of Yahweh!”
27. It was for those in Bethel, for those in Ramoth of the Negev, for those in Jattir,
28. for those in Aroer, for those in Siphmoth, for those in Eshtemoa,