David Recovers His Loved Ones

1 Then it happened when David and his men came to (A)Ziklag on the third day, that (B)the Amalekites had made a raid on the (a)Negev and on (C)Ziklag, and had (b)overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire;

1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

1 David and his men(A) arrived in Ziklag(B) on the third day. The Amalekites(C) had raided the Negev and attacked and burned down Ziklag.

1 When David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and set it on fire.

1 Now it happened when David and his men came [home] to Ziklag on the third day, [they found] that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev (the South country) and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire;

2 and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, (c)(D)without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way.

2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

2 They also had kidnapped the women and everyone(a) in it from the youngest to the oldest. They had killed no one but had carried them off(D) as they went on their way.

2 They took the women in it captive, from young to old. They did not kill anyone. Instead, they carried them off and went on their way.

2 and they had taken captive the women [and all] who were there, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off [to be used as slaves] and went on their way.

3 When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

3 When David and his men arrived at the town, they found it burned down. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been kidnapped.

3 David and his men came to the town, and it had been burned down. Their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

3 When David and his men came to the town, it was burned, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

4 Then David and the people who were with him (E)lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.

4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

4 David and the troops with him wept loudly until they had no strength left to weep.

4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and cried until they had no more strength left to cry.

4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until (a)they were too exhausted to weep [any longer].

5 Now (F)David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the (d)widow of Nabal the Carmelite.

5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

5 David’s two wives,(E) Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had also been kidnapped.

5 David's two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal's former wife, had been captured.

5 Now David’s two wives had been captured, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.

6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because (G)the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were (e)embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But (H)David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

6 David was in a difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him,(F) for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.(G)

6 David was in great danger because all the people were bitter because of their sons and daughters, and they were talking about stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

6 Further, David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all of them were embittered, each man for his sons and daughters. But David felt strengthened and encouraged in the Lord his God.

7 Then (I)David said to (J)Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

7 David said to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.”(H) So Abiathar brought it to him,

7 David told Ahimelech's son Abiathar the priest, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

7 David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought him the ephod.

8 (K)David inquired of the Lord, saying, “(L)Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, (M)and you will surely rescue all.”

8 And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

8 and David asked the Lord:(I) “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?”(J)The Lord replied to him, “Pursue them, for you will certainly overtake them and rescue the people.”(K)

8 David inquired of the LORD: "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?"

8 David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this band [of raiders]? Will I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them, and you will certainly rescue [the captives].”

9 So David went, (N)he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those left behind remained.

9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.

9 David and the 600 men with him(L) went as far as the Wadi Besor, where 200 men who were to remain behind would stop.(M)

9 The LORD told David, "Pursue them! You will definitely overtake them and rescue the captives." So David and 600 men who were with him set out. They came to the Wadi Besor where those who were left behind stayed.

9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor; there those [who could not continue] remained behind.

10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for (O)two hundred who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor remained behind.

10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.

10 They stopped because they were too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor. David and 400 of the men continued in pursuit.

10 David and 400 men continued the pursuit, while the 200 men who were too exhausted to cross over the Wadi Besor remained there.

10 But David pursued [the Amalekites], he and four hundred men, for two hundred who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor stayed behind.

11 Now they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David, and gave him bread and he ate, and they provided him water to drink.

11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;

11 They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink.

11 They found an Egyptian man in the field, and they took him to David. They gave him food to eat and provided water for him.

11 They found an Egyptian [who had collapsed] in the field and brought him to David, and gave him bread and he ate, and they gave him water to drink,

12 They gave him a piece of fig cake and two clusters of raisins, and he ate; (P)then his spirit (f)revived. For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.

12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

12 Then they gave him some pressed figs and two clusters of raisins. After he ate he revived,(N) for he hadn’t eaten food or drunk water for three days and three nights.

12 They gave him part of a fig cake and two bunches of raisins. After he had eaten, he revived, since he had neither eaten food nor had he drunk water for three days and three nights.

12 and they gave him a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins; and when he had eaten, his (b)energy returned, for he had not eaten bread or had any water to drink for three days and three nights.

13 David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man of Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind when I fell sick three days ago.

13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

13 Then David said to him, “Who do you belong to? Where are you from?”“I’m an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite man,” he said. “My master abandoned me when I got sick three days ago.

13 David told him, "To whom do you belong and where are you from?"

13 David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man from Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite; and my master abandoned me [as useless] when I fell sick three days ago.

14 We made a raid on (Q)the (g)Negev of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on (R)the (h)Negev of Caleb, and (S)we burned Ziklag with fire.”

14 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

14 We raided the south country of the Cherethites,(O) the territory of Judah, and the south country of Caleb,(P) and we burned down Ziklag.”(Q)

14 The Egyptian replied, "I'm a young Egyptian man, the slave of an Amalekite man. My master abandoned me, because I got sick three days ago. We raided the Negev of the Cherethites, the territory that belongs to Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we set Ziklag on fire."

14 We made a raid on the Negev of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

15 Then David said to him, “Will you bring me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this band.”

15 And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.

15 David then asked him, “Will you lead me to these raiders?”He said, “Swear to me by God that you won’t kill me or turn me over to my master, and I will lead you to them.”

15 David asked him, "Will you take me to this raiding party?" He said, "Swear to me by God that you won't kill me or turn me over to my master, and I'll take you to the raiding party."

15 Then David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band [of raiders]?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or turn me over to the hand of my master, and I will bring you down to this band.”

David Defeats The Amalekites

16 When he had brought him down, behold, they were (i)spread over all the land, (T)eating and drinking and (j)dancing because of (U)all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

16 So he led him, and there were the Amalekites, spread out over the entire area, eating, drinking, and celebrating because of the great amount of plunder(R) they had taken from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah.

16 The Egyptian led him to the camp, and there the Amalekites were spread out over the whole area, eating, drinking, and celebrating with the great amount of spoil they had taken from the territory belonging to the Philistines and to Judah.

16 When he brought David down, the Amalekites had disbanded and spread over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

17 David (k)slaughtered them (V)from the twilight (l)until the evening of (m)the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on (W)camels and fled.

17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

17 David slaughtered them from twilight until the evening of the next day.(S) None of them escaped, except 400 young men who got on camels and fled.(T)

17 David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not one of them escaped except for 400 young men who mounted camels and fled.

17 Then David [and his men] struck them down [in battle] from twilight until the evening of the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode camels and fled.

18 So David (X)recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and (n)rescued his two wives.

18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken; he also rescued his two wives.

18 David rescued everyone whom the Amalekites had captured, including his two wives.

18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives.

19 But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; (Y)David brought it all back.

19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

19 Nothing of theirs was missing from the youngest to the oldest, including the sons and daughters, of all the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David got everything back.(U)

19 Nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or large, sons or daughters, spoil, or anything that they had taken for themselves David brought back everything.

19 Nothing of theirs was missing whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David recovered it all.

20 So David had (o)captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of (p)the other livestock, and they said, “(Z)This is David’s spoil.”

20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

20 He took all the sheep and cattle, which were driven ahead of the other livestock, and the people shouted, “This is David’s plunder!”(V)

20 David took all the rest of the sheep and cattle, driving them ahead of their rescued livestock. People said about all this, "This is David's spoil."

20 So David captured all the flocks and herds [which the enemy had], and [the people] drove those animals before him and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

21 When (AA)David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them.

21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

21 When David came to the 200 men who had been too exhausted to go with him and had been left at the Wadi Besor,(W) they came out to meet him and to meet the troops with him. When David approached the men, he greeted them,

21 David came to the 200 men who were too exhausted to follow him and who had been left at the Wadi Besor. They came out to meet David and the people who were with him. As David approached the people, he asked them how they were doing.

21 David came to the two hundred men who were so exhausted that they could not follow him and had been left at the brook Besor [with the provisions]. They went out to meet David and the people with him, and when he approached the people, he greeted them.

22 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with (q)us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.”

22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

22 but all the corrupt and worthless men among those who had gone with David argued, “Because they didn’t go with us, we will not give any of the plunder we recovered to them except for each man’s wife and children. They may take them and go.”

22 At this point, all the wicked and worthless men of the group who had gone with David answered, "Because they didn't go with us, we won't give them any of the spoil that we recovered, except that each person may take his wife and his children and go."

22 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will give them none of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may take his wife and children away and leave.”

23 Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us.

23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

23 But David said, “My brothers, you must not do this with what the Lord has given us. He protected us and handed over to us the raiders who came against us.

23 David said, "No, you won't do this, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He guarded us and gave the raiding party that came against us into our hand.

23 David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and has handed over to us the band [of Amalekites] that came against us.

24 And who will listen to you in this matter? For (AB)as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.”

24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

24 Who can agree to your proposal? The share of the one who goes into battle is to be the same as the share of the one who remains with the supplies. They will share equally.”(X)

24 Who will listen to you in this matter? Indeed, the share of those who went down into battle and the share of those who stayed with the supplies will be the same. They'll share alike."

24 And who will listen to you in regard to this matter? For as is the share of him who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the provisions and supplies; they shall share alike.”

25 So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

25 And it has been so from that day forward. David established this policy as a law and an ordinance for Israel and it continues to this very day.

25 From that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel, and it remains to this present day.

25 So from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

26 Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Behold, (AC)a (r)gift for you from the spoil of (AD)the enemies of the Lord:

26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you(Y) from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.”(Z)

26 David came to Ziklag, and he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, and to his friends, telling them, "Look, this is a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to the elders of Judah, his friends, saying, “Here is a blessing (gift) for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord:

27 to those who were in (AE)Bethel, and to those who were in (AF)Ramoth of the (s)Negev, and to those who were in (AG)Jattir,

27 To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,

27 He sent gifts to those in Bethel,(AA) in Ramoth of the Negev,(AB) and in Jattir;(AC)

27 in Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir,

27 For those in Bethel, Ramoth of the Negev, Jattir,

28 and to those who were in (AH)Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in (AI)Eshtemoa,

28 And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,

28 to those in Aroer,(AD) in Siphmoth,(AE) and in Eshtemoa;(AF)

28 Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa,

28 Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa,

29 and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of (AJ)the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of (AK)the Kenites,

29 And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,

29 to those in Racal, in the towns of the Jerahmeelites,(AG) and in the towns of the Kenites;(AH)

29 Rachal, in the Jerahmeelite towns, in the Kenite towns,

29 Racal, the cities of the Jerahmeelites, the cities of the Kenites,

30 and to those who were in (AL)Hormah, and to those who were in (AM)Bor-ashan, and to those who were in Athach,

30 And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,

30 to those in Hormah,(AI) in Bor-ashan,(AJ) and in Athach;

30 in Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach,

30 Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach,

31 and to those who were in (AN)Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to (AO)go.”

31 And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

31 to those in Hebron,(AK) and to those in all the places where David and his men had roamed.(AL)

31 Hebron, and for all those places where David and his men had frequented."

31 Hebron, and for [those elders in] all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to go.”

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