1 Samuel, Chapter 30:

Verses from 1 Samuel, Chapter 30 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.

David destroys the Amalekites

1. 1. When David and his soldiers arrived at Ziklag on the third day, they discovered that the Amalekites had invaded the Negev and burned the city.
2. 2. They took with them all the inhabitants as prisoners: women, children and the elderly. No one was killed, but they were taken when the Amalekites continued their journey.
3. 3. Upon arriving at Ziklag, David and his soldiers found the city in ruins and saw that their wives, sons and daughters had been taken prisoner.
4. 4. David and his men wept loudly until they could no longer cry. They were devastated.
5. 5. David's two wives had also been taken: Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel, who had previously been Nabal's wife.
6. 6. David was deeply distressed, and his men talked about stoning him. They were bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
7. 7. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
8. 8. David consulted the Lord, asking, “Should I pursue this group of invaders? Will I be able to reach them?” And the Lord answered, “Pursue them, for you will surely overtake them and rescue the prisoners.”
9. 9. David and the six hundred men who were with him went to the river Besor, where some of them stayed to rest.
10. 10. Two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the stream, so David and four hundred men continued the chase.
11. 11. In the field they found a young Egyptian and brought him to David. They gave him water and food:
12. 12. a piece of pressed fig cake and two raisin cakes. He ate and regained his strength, for he had not eaten or drunk for three days and three nights.
13. 13. David asked, “Who do you belong to and where did you come from?” The young man replied: “I am an Egyptian, a servant of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I fell ill three days ago.
14. 14. We attacked the Negeb of the Kerethites, the territory of Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we set fire to the city of Ziklag.”
15. 15. David asked, “Can you lead us to this group of raiders?” He replied, “Swear before God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will lead you to them.”
16. 16. The young man led David to the place where the Amalekites were scattered throughout the region, eating, drinking and celebrating the goods they had plundered from the land of the Philistines and Judah.
17. 17. David attacked them from dawn until the following afternoon, and none of them escaped except four hundred young men who rode camels and managed to escape.
18. 18. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.
19. 19. Nothing was missing: neither young nor old, neither sons nor daughters, nor riches nor anything else that had been taken. David recovered everything.
20. 20. Furthermore, he took all the livestock of the Amalekites. His soldiers led the flocks ahead of the other animals, saying, “These are David’s spoils.”
21. 21. When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow him and who had remained at the brook Besor, they went out to meet David and those who were with him. As he approached, David greeted them.
22. 22. However, some wicked and lazy men who had gone with David said, “Since they did not fight with us, we will not give them anything we recovered. Everyone can take their wife and children and leave.”
23. 23. But David replied, “No, my brothers! Don't do this with what the Lord gave us. He protected us and delivered into our hands the invaders who came against us.
24. 24. Who will agree with what you are saying? Those who stayed with the luggage will receive the same reward as those who went into battle. Everyone will receive equal shares.”
25. 25. David decreed this as a statute and a law for Israel, and it has been observed to this day.
26. 26. When David returned to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoils to the authorities of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a gift for you, taken from the spoils of the enemies of the Lord.”
27. 27. He sent gifts to the authorities in Bethel, Ramoth in the Negev, Jatir,
28. 28. of Aroer, of Sifmoth, of Estemoa,
29. 29. from Racal, from the cities of the Jerameelites and the Kenites,
30. 30. of Hormah, of Chorasan, of Atace,
31. 31. from Hebron and from all the places where David and his soldiers had passed.

Online Bible