1 Samuel 30:1–10

Now when David and his men were come to Siceleg on the third day, the Amalecites had made an invasion on the south side upon Siceleg, and had smitten Siceleg, and burnt it with fire,

²And had taken the women captives that were in it, both little and great: and they had not killed any person, but had carried them with them, and went on their way.

³So when David and his men came to the city, and found it burnt with fire, and that their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives,

⁴David and the people that were with him, lifted up their voices, and wept till they had no more tears.

⁵For the two wives also of David were taken captives, Achinoam, the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

⁶And David was greatly afflicted: for the people had a mind to stone him, for the soul of every man was bitterly grieved for his sons and daughters: but David took courage in the Lord his God.

⁷And he said to Abiathar, the priest, the son of Achimelech: Bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

⁸And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I pursue after these robbers, and shall I overtake them, or not? And the Lord said to him: Pursue after them: for thou shalt surely overtake them and recover the prey.

⁹So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and they came to the torrent Besor: and some, being weary, stayed there.

¹⁰But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred stayed, who, being weary, could not go over the torrent Besor.