David’s Wives Are Captured

30 Now when David and his men came to uZiklag on the third day, vthe Amalekites had wmade a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2 and taken captive the women and all1 who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David’s xtwo wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke yof stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul,2 each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

7 zAnd David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 aAnd David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this bband? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake cand shall surely rescue.” 9 So David set out, and dthe six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. eTwo hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.