The Amalekites Raid Ziklag

1  וַיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass), בְּבֹ֨א (when came) דָוִ֧ד (David) וַאֲנָשָׁ֛יו (and his men) צִֽקְלַ֖ג (into Ziklag) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י (third), וַעֲמָלֵקִ֣י (that the Amalekite) פָֽשְׁט֗וּ (had invaded) אֶל־ (against) נֶ֙גֶב֙ (the Negev) וְאֶל־ (and against) צִ֣קְלַ֔ג (Ziklag), וַיַּכּוּ֙ (and they had struck) אֶת־ (-) צִ֣קְלַ֔ג (Ziklag), וַיִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ (and burned) אֹתָ֖הּ (it) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (with the fire). 2  וַיִּשְׁבּ֨וּ (And they took captive) אֶת־ (-) הַנָּשִׁ֤ים (the women) אֲשֶׁר־ (those who) בָּהּ֙ (were in it) מִקָּטֹ֣ן (from small), וְעַד־ (and to) גָּד֔וֹל (great) לֹ֥א (not) הֵמִ֖יתוּ (they did kill) אִ֑ישׁ (anyone), וַיִּֽנְהֲג֔וּ (and they carried them off), וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (and went) לְדַרְכָּֽם׃ (on their way).

3  וַיָּבֹ֨א (And came) דָוִ֤ד (David) וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙ (and his men) אֶל־ (to) הָעִ֔יר (the city), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), שְׂרוּפָ֖ה (it was burned) בָּאֵ֑שׁ (with the fire), וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם (and their wives) וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם (and their sons) וּבְנֹתֵיהֶ֖ם (and their daughters) נִשְׁבּֽוּ׃ (had been taken captive). 4  וַיִּשָּׂ֨א (And lifted up) דָוִ֜ד (David) וְהָעָ֧ם (and the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּ֛וֹ (with him) אֶת־ (-) קוֹלָ֖ם (their voices) וַיִּבְכּ֑וּ (and wept), עַ֣ד (until) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (that) אֵין־ (there was not) בָּהֶ֛ם (in them) כֹּ֖חַ (was power) לִבְכּֽוֹת׃ (to weep).

5  וּשְׁתֵּ֥י (And the two) נְשֵֽׁי־ (wives) דָוִ֖ד (of David) נִשְׁבּ֑וּ (had been taken captive), אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ (Ahinoam) הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית (the Jezreelitess) וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל (and Abigail) אֵ֖שֶׁת (the widow) נָבָ֥ל (of Nabal) הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃ (the Carmelite). 6  וַתֵּ֨צֶר (And was distressed) לְדָוִ֜ד (David) מְאֹ֗ד (greatly), כִּֽי־ (for) אָמְר֤וּ (spoke) הָעָם֙ (the people) לְסָקְל֔וֹ (of stoning him) כִּֽי־ (because) מָ֙רָה֙ (was grieved) נֶ֣פֶשׁ (the soul) כָּל־ (of all) הָעָ֔ם (the people), אִ֖ישׁ (every man) עַל־ (for) בְּנוֹ (his sons) וְעַל־ (and) בְּנֹתָ֑יו (his daughters). וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק (And strengthened himself) דָּוִ֔ד (David) בַּיהוָ֖ה (in YHWH) אֱלֹהָֽיו׃ס (his God).

David Destroys the Amalekites

7  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֗ד (David) אֶל־ (to) אֶבְיָתָ֤ר (Abiathar) הַכֹּהֵן֙ (the priest), בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ (of Ahimelech), הַגִּֽישָׁה־ (Bring here) נָּ֥א (please) לִ֖י (to me) הָאֵפֹ֑ד (the ephod).

וַיַּגֵּ֧שׁ (And brought) אֶבְיָתָ֛ר (Abiathar) אֶת־ (-) הָאֵפֹ֖ד (the ephod) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִֽד׃ (David). 8  וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל (And inquired) דָּוִ֤ד (David) בַּֽיהוָה֙ (of YHWH), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אֶרְדֹּ֛ף (Shall I pursue) אַחֲרֵ֥י (after) הַגְּדוּד־ (the troop) הַזֶּ֖ה (this)? הַֽאַשִּׂגֶ֑נּוּ (Will I overtake them)?

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And He answered) לוֹ֙ (him), רְדֹ֔ף (Pursue), כִּֽי־ (for) הַשֵּׂ֥ג (overtaking) תַּשִּׂ֖יג (you shall overtake them) וְהַצֵּ֥ל (and delivering) תַּצִּֽיל׃ (you shall deliver).

9  וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And went) דָּוִ֗ד (David), ה֚וּא (he) וְשֵׁשׁ־ (and six) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אִישׁ֙ (men) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אִתּ֔וֹ (with him), וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and they came) עַד־ (to) נַ֣חַל (the Brook) הַבְּשׂ֑וֹר (of Besor), וְהַנּֽוֹתָרִ֖ים (and those left behind) עָמָֽדוּ׃ (stood still). 10  וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף (And pursued) דָּוִ֔ד (David) ה֖וּא (he) וְאַרְבַּע־ (and four) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) אִ֑ישׁ (men), וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ (and for stayed behind) מָאתַ֣יִם (two hundred) אִ֔ישׁ (men) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) פִּגְּר֔וּ (were so weary) מֵעֲבֹ֖ר (that they could not cross) אֶת־ (-) נַ֥חַל (the Brook) הַבְּשֽׂוֹר׃ (of Besor).

11  וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ (And they found) אִישׁ־ (-) מִצְרִי֙ (an Egyptian) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (in the field) וַיִּקְח֥וּ (and brought) אֹת֖וֹ (him) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֑ד (David), וַיִּתְּנוּ־ (and they gave) ל֥וֹ (to him) לֶ֙חֶם֙ (bread), וַיֹּ֔אכַל (and he ate), וַיַּשְׁקֻ֖הוּ (and they let him drink) מָֽיִם׃ (water). 12  וַיִּתְּנוּ־ (And they gave) לוֹ֩ (to him) פֶ֨לַח (a piece) דְּבֵלָ֜ה (of a cake of figs), וּשְׁנֵ֤י (and two) צִמֻּקִים֙ (clusters of raisins). וַיֹּ֔אכַל (And he ate) וַתָּ֥שָׁב (and came back) רוּח֖וֹ (his strength) אֵלָ֑יו (to him), כִּ֠י (for) לֹֽא־ (not) אָ֤כַל (he had eaten) לֶ֙חֶם֙ (bread) וְלֹא־ (and not) שָׁ֣תָה (drunk) מַ֔יִם (water) שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה (for three) יָמִ֖ים (days) וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה (and three) לֵילֽוֹת׃ס (nights).

13  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) ל֤וֹ (to him) דָוִד֙ (David), לְֽמִי־ (To whom) אַ֔תָּה (are you) וְאֵ֥י (and where) מִזֶּ֖ה (from) אָ֑תָּה (are you)?

וַיֹּ֜אמֶר (And he said), נַ֧עַר (A young man), מִצְרִ֣י (an Egyptian), אָנֹ֗כִי (I am), עֶ֚בֶד (servant) לְאִ֣ישׁ (of) עֲמָֽלֵקִ֔י (an Amalekite). וַיַּעַזְבֵ֧נִי (And left me behind) אֲדֹנִ֛י (my master) כִּ֥י (because) חָלִ֖יתִי (I fell sick) הַיּ֥וֹם (days ago) שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ (three). 14  אֲנַ֡חְנוּ (We) פָּשַׁ֜טְנוּ (made an invasion) נֶ֧גֶב (to the south) הַכְּרֵתִ֛י (of the Cherethite) וְעַל־ (and against) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that which) לִֽיהוּדָ֖ה (is unto Judah), וְעַל־ (and against) נֶ֣גֶב (the south) כָּלֵ֑ב (of Caleb). וְאֶת־ (And) צִקְלַ֖ג (Ziklag) שָׂרַ֥פְנוּ (we burned) בָאֵֽשׁ׃ (with the fire).

15  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) דָּוִ֔ד (David), הֲתוֹרִדֵ֖נִי (Can you take me down) אֶל־ (to) הַגְּד֣וּד (the troop) הַזֶּ֑ה (this)?

וַיֹּ֡אמֶר (And he said), הִשָּׁבְעָה֩ (Swear) לִּ֨י (to me) בֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים (by God) אִם־ (that not) תְּמִיתֵ֗נִי (you will kill me) וְאִם־ (or) תַּסְגִּרֵ֙נִי֙ (deliver me) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) אֲדֹנִ֔י (of my master), וְאוֹרִֽדְךָ֖ (and I will take you down) אֶל־ (to) הַגְּד֥וּד (the troop) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

16  וַיֹּ֣רִדֵ֔הוּ (And he brought him down), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), נְטֻשִׁ֖ים (they were spread out) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) כָל־ (of all) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land), אֹכְלִ֤ים (eating) וְשֹׁתִים֙ (and drinking) וְחֹ֣גְגִ֔ים (and dancing), בְּכֹל֙ (because of all) הַשָּׁלָ֣ל (the plunder) הַגָּד֔וֹל (great) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לָקְח֛וּ (they had taken) מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (from the land) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (of the Philistines) וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ (and from the land) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah). 17  וַיַּכֵּ֥ם (And attacked them) דָּוִ֛ד (David) מֵהַנֶּ֥שֶׁף (from twilight) וְעַד־ (and until) הָעֶ֖רֶב (the evening) לְמָֽחֳרָתָ֑ם (of the next day). וְלֹֽא־ (And not) נִמְלַ֤ט (escaped) מֵהֶם֙ (of them) אִ֔ישׁ (a man) כִּי֩ (but) אִם־ (rather) אַרְבַּ֨ע (four) מֵא֧וֹת (hundred) אִֽישׁ־ (men) נַ֛עַר (young) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) רָכְב֥וּ (rode) עַל־ (on) הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים (the camels) וַיָּנֻֽסוּ׃ (and fled).

18  וַיַּצֵּ֣ל (And snatched away) דָּוִ֔ד (David) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לָקְח֖וּ (had carried away) עֲמָלֵ֑ק (the Amalekite), וְאֶת־ (and) שְׁתֵּ֥י (two) נָשָׁ֖יו (his wives) הִצִּ֥יל (snatched away) דָּוִֽד׃ (David). 19  וְלֹ֣א (And nothing) נֶעְדַּר־ (was lacking) לָ֠הֶם (of theirs) מִן־ (either) הַקָּטֹ֨ן (small) וְעַד־ (and to) הַגָּד֜וֹל (great), וְעַד־ (and) בָּנִ֤ים (sons) וּבָנוֹת֙ (and daughters), וּמִשָּׁלָ֔ל (and from plunder), וְעַ֛ד (and to) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לָקְח֖וּ (they had taken) לָהֶ֑ם (from them). הַכֹּ֖ל (Everything) הֵשִׁ֥יב (brought back) דָּוִֽד׃ (David). 20  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) דָּוִ֔ד (David) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הַצֹּ֖אן (of the flock) וְהַבָּקָ֑ר (and of the herd) נָהֲג֗וּ (they had driven) לִפְנֵי֙ (before the face of) הַמִּקְנֶ֣ה (the livestock) הַה֔וּא (these), וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and they said), זֶ֖ה (This) שְׁלַ֥ל (is the plunder) דָּוִֽד׃ (of David).

The Spoils Are Divided

21  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And came) דָוִ֗ד (David) אֶל־ (to) מָאתַ֨יִם (two hundred) הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים (the men) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (who) פִּגְּר֣וּ׀ (had been so weary) מִלֶּ֣כֶת׀ (that they could not follow) אַחֲרֵ֣י (behind) דָוִ֗ד (David), וַיֹּֽשִׁיבֻם֙ (and whom they had made to stay) בְּנַ֣חַל (at Brook) הַבְּשׂ֔וֹר (the Besor), וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ (and they went out) לִקְרַ֣את (to meet) דָּוִ֔ד (David) וְלִקְרַ֖את (and to meet) הָעָ֣ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him). וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ (And came near) דָּוִד֙ (David) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people), וַיִּשְׁאַ֥ל (and he asked) לָהֶ֖ם (them) לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ס (of welfare). 22  וַיַּ֜עַן (And answered) כָּל־ (all) אִֽישׁ־ (the men) רָ֣ע (wicked) וּבְלִיַּ֗עַל (and worthless) מֵֽהָאֲנָשִׁים֮ (of those) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) הָלְכ֣וּ (went) עִם־ (with) דָּוִד֒ (David), וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (and said), יַ֚עַן (Because) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) הָלְכ֣וּ (they did go) עִמִּ֔י (with us), לֹֽא־ (not) נִתֵּ֣ן (we will give) לָהֶ֔ם (to them) מֵהַשָּׁלָ֖ל (from the plunder) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הִצַּ֑לְנוּ (we have snatched away), כִּֽי־ (but) אִם־ (rather) אִ֤ישׁ (for every man) אֶת־ (-) אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ (his wife) וְאֶת־ (and) בָּנָ֔יו (his sons), וְיִנְהֲג֖וּ (that they may lead them away) וְיֵלֵֽכוּ׃ס (and depart).

23  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֔ד (David), לֹֽא־ (Not) תַעֲשׂ֥וּ (you⁺ shall do) כֵ֖ן (so), אֶחָ֑י (my brothers), אֵ֠ת (with) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) נָתַ֨ן (has given) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) לָ֙נוּ֙ (to us), וַיִּשְׁמֹ֣ר (and who has preserved) אֹתָ֔נוּ (us) וַיִּתֵּ֗ן (and delivered) אֶֽת־ (-) הַגְּד֛וּד (the troop) הַבָּ֥א (that came) עָלֵ֖ינוּ (against us) בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃ (into our hands). 24  וּמִי֙ (And for who) יִשְׁמַ֣ע (will listen) לָכֶ֔ם (to you⁺) לַדָּבָ֖ר (in the matter) הַזֶּ֑ה (this)? כִּ֞י (But) כְּחֵ֣לֶק׀ (as is the portion) הַיֹּרֵ֣ד (of the one having gone down) בַּמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (to the battle), וּֽכְחֵ֛לֶק (so shall be the portion) הַיֹּשֵׁ֥ב (of the one having stayed) עַל־ (with) הַכֵּלִ֖ים (the supplies). יַחְדָּ֥ו (Together) יַחֲלֹֽקוּ׃ס (they shall take portions).

25  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass), מֵֽהַיּ֥וֹם (from day) הַה֖וּא (that) וָמָ֑עְלָה (and forward), וַיְשִׂמֶ֜הָ (and he made it) לְחֹ֤ק (a statute) וּלְמִשְׁפָּט֙ (and an ordinance) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (for Israel) עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַזֶּֽה׃פ (this).

26  וַיָּבֹ֤א (And came) דָוִד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) צִ֣קְלַ֔ג (Ziklag), וַיְשַׁלַּ֧ח (and he sent some) מֵֽהַשָּׁלָ֛ל (from the plunder) לְזִקְנֵ֥י (to the elders) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah), לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ (to his friends)— לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), לָכֶם֙ (for you⁺) בְּרָכָ֔ה (a present) מִשְּׁלַ֖ל (from the plunder) אֹיְבֵ֥י (of the enemies) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).” 27  לַאֲשֶׁ֧ר (To those) בְּבֵֽית־ (in Beth-) אֵ֛ל (el), וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and to those) בְּרָמֽוֹת־ (in Ramoth) נֶ֖גֶב (of the Negev), וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and to those) בְּיַתִּֽר׃ (in Jattir), 28  וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר (and to those) בַּעֲרֹעֵ֛ר (in Aroer), וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and to those) בְּשִֽׂפְמ֖וֹת (in Siphmoth), וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and to those) בְּאֶשְׁתְּמֹֽעַ׃ס (in Eshtemoa), 29  וְלַאֲשֶׁ֣ר (and to those) בְּרָכָ֗ל (in Rachal), וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (and to those) בְּעָרֵ֣י (in the cities) הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִ֔י (of the Jerahmeelite), וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר (and to those) בְּעָרֵ֥י (in the cities) הַקֵּינִֽי׃ (of the Kenite), 30  וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר (and to those) בְּחָרְמָ֛ה (in Hormah), וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and to those) בְּבוֹר־ (in Bor-) עָשָׁ֖ן (ashan), וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and to those) בַּעֲתָֽךְ׃ (in Athach), 31  וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר (and to those) בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן (in Hebron), וּֽלְכָל־ (and to all) הַמְּקֹמ֛וֹת (the places) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (where) הִתְהַלֶּךְ־ (had gone up and down) שָׁ֥ם (there) דָּוִ֖ד (David)— ה֥וּא (he) וַאֲנָשָֽׁיו׃פ (and his men).