DAVID’S DEFEAT OF THE AMALEKITES

30 David and his menn arrived in Ziklago on the third day. The Amalekitesp had raided the Negev and attacked and burned Ziklag. 2 They also had kidnapped the women and everyoneE in it from youngest to oldest. They had killed no one but had carried them offq as they went on their way.

3 When David and his men arrived at the town, they found it burned. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been kidnapped. 4 David and the troops with him wept loudly until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives,r Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had also been kidnapped. 6 David was in an extremely difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him,s for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.t

7 David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.”u So Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David asked the Lord,v “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?”w

The Lord replied to him, “Pursue them, for you will certainly overtake them and rescue the people.”x