1 Samuel 30

While David is absent with the army of Achish, the Amalekites invade Ziklag, and burn it with fire, and carry away captive David's wives, and those of his men, 1 Samuel 30:1 , 1 Samuel 30:2 . David and his men return; and, finding the desolate state of their city, are greatly affected, 1 Samuel 30:3-5 . The men mutiny, and threaten to stone David, who encourages himself in the Lord, 1 Samuel 30:6 . David inquires of the Lord, and is directed to pursue the Amalekites, with the promise that he shall recover all, 1 Samuel 30:7 , 1 Samuel 30:8 . He and his men begin the pursuit, but two hundred, through fatigue are obliged to stay behind at the brook Besor, 1 Samuel 30:9 , 1 Samuel 30:10 . They find a sick Egyptian, who directs them in their pursuit, 1 Samuel 30:11-15 . David finds the Amalekites secure, feasting on the spoils they had taken; he attacks and destroys the whole host, except four hundred, who escape on camels, 1 Samuel 30:16 , 1 Samuel 30:17 . The Israelites recover their wives, their families, and all their goods, 1 Samuel 30:18-20 . They come to the two hundred who were so faint as not to be able to pursue the enemy, with whom they divide the spoil; and this becomes a statute in Israel, 1 Samuel 30:21-25 . David sends part of the spoil which he had taken to different Jewish cities, which had suffered by the incursion of the Amalekites; and where David and his men had been accustomed to resort, 1 Samuel 30:26-31 .