New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground.

1וַיְהִ֞י בְּבֹ֨א דָוִ֧ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֛יו צִֽקְלַ֖ג בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י וַעֲמָלֵקִ֣י פָֽשְׁט֗וּ אֶל־ נֶ֙גֶב֙ וְאֶל־ צִ֣קְלַ֔ג וַיַּכּוּ֙ אֶת־ צִ֣קְלַ֔ג וַיִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ אֹתָ֖הּ בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

2They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.

2וַיִּשְׁבּ֨וּ אֶת־ הַנָּשִׁ֤ים אֲשֶׁר־ בָּהּ֙ מִקָּטֹ֣ן וְעַד־ גָּד֔וֹל לֹ֥א הֵמִ֖יתוּ אִ֑ישׁ וַיִּֽנְהֲג֔וּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לְדַרְכָּֽם׃

3When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families,

3וַיָּבֹ֨א דָוִ֤ד וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙ אֶל־ הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֥ה שְׂרוּפָ֖ה בָּאֵ֑שׁ וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם וּבְנֹתֵיהֶ֖ם נִשְׁבּֽוּ׃

4they wept until they could weep no more.

4וַיִּשָּׂ֨א דָוִ֜ד וְהָעָ֧ם אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֛וֹ אֶת־ קוֹלָ֖ם וַיִּבְכּ֑וּ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֵין־ בָּהֶ֛ם כֹּ֖חַ לִבְכּֽוֹת׃

5David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured.

5וּשְׁתֵּ֥י נְשֵֽׁי־ דָוִ֖ד נִשְׁבּ֑וּ אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֥ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃

6David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

6וַתֵּ֨צֶר לְדָוִ֜ד מְאֹ֗ד כִּֽי־ אָמְר֤וּ הָעָם֙ לְסָקְל֔וֹ כִּֽי־ מָ֙רָה֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ כָּל־ הָעָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ עַל־ [בנו] (בָּנָ֣יו) וְעַל־ בְּנֹתָ֑יו וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק דָּוִ֔ד בַּיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃ ס

7Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it.

7וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד אֶל־ אֶבְיָתָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ בֶּן־ אֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ הַגִּֽישָׁה־ נָּ֥א לִ֖י הָאֵפֹ֑ד וַיַּגֵּ֧שׁ אֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־ הָאֵפֹ֖ד אֶל־ דָּוִֽד׃

8Then David asked the LORD, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the LORD told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”

8וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל דָּוִ֤ד בַּֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶרְדֹּ֛ף אַחֲרֵ֥י הַגְּדוּד־ הַזֶּ֖ה הַֽאַשִּׂגֶ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ רְדֹ֔ף כִּֽי־ הַשֵּׂ֥ג תַּשִּׂ֖יג וְהַצֵּ֥ל תַּצִּֽיל׃

9So David and his 600 men set out, and they came to the brook Besor.

9וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד ה֚וּא וְשֵׁשׁ־ מֵא֥וֹת אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־ נַ֣חַל הַבְּשׂ֑וֹר וְהַנּֽוֹתָרִ֖ים עָמָֽדוּ׃

10But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.

10וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף דָּוִ֔ד ה֖וּא וְאַרְבַּע־ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ מָאתַ֣יִם אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פִּגְּר֔וּ מֵעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־ נַ֥חַל הַבְּשֽׂוֹר׃

11Along the way they found an Egyptian man in a field and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink.

11וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ אִישׁ־ מִצְרִי֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַיִּקְח֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אֶל־ דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּתְּנוּ־ ל֥וֹ לֶ֙חֶם֙ וַיֹּ֔אכַל וַיַּשְׁקֻ֖הוּ מָֽיִם׃

12They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. Before long his strength returned.

12וַיִּתְּנוּ־ לוֹ֩ פֶ֨לַח דְּבֵלָ֜ה וּשְׁנֵ֤י צִמֻּקִים֙ וַיֹּ֔אכַל וַתָּ֥שָׁב רוּח֖וֹ אֵלָ֑יו כִּ֠י לֹֽא־ אָ֤כַל לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְלֹא־ שָׁ֣תָה מַ֔יִם שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה לֵילֽוֹת׃ ס

13“To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” David asked him. “I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite,” he replied. “My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick.

13וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֤וֹ דָוִד֙ לְֽמִי־ אַ֔תָּה וְאֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה אָ֑תָּה וַיֹּ֜אמֶר נַ֧עַר מִצְרִ֣י אָנֹ֗כִי עֶ֚בֶד לְאִ֣ישׁ עֲמָֽלֵקִ֔י וַיַּעַזְבֵ֧נִי אֲדֹנִ֛י כִּ֥י חָלִ֖יתִי הַיּ֥וֹם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

14We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.”

14אֲנַ֡חְנוּ פָּשַׁ֜טְנוּ נֶ֧גֶב הַכְּרֵתִ֛י וְעַל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִֽיהוּדָ֖ה וְעַל־ נֶ֣גֶב כָּלֵ֑ב וְאֶת־ צִקְלַ֖ג שָׂרַ֥פְנוּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃

15“Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked. The young man replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.”

15וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ דָּוִ֔ד הֲתוֹרִדֵ֖נִי אֶל־ הַגְּד֣וּד הַזֶּ֑ה וַיֹּ֡אמֶר הִשָּׁבְעָה֩ לִּ֨י בֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים אִם־ תְּמִיתֵ֗נִי וְאִם־ תַּסְגִּרֵ֙נִי֙ בְּיַד־ אֲדֹנִ֔י וְאוֹרִֽדְךָ֖ אֶל־ הַגְּד֥וּד הַזֶּֽה׃

16So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah.

16וַיֹּ֣רִדֵ֔הוּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה נְטֻשִׁ֖ים עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י כָל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ אֹכְלִ֤ים וְשֹׁתִים֙ וְחֹ֣גְגִ֔ים בְּכֹל֙ הַשָּׁלָ֣ל הַגָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֛וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָֽה׃

17David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels.

17וַיַּכֵּ֥ם דָּוִ֛ד מֵהַנֶּ֥שֶׁף וְעַד־ הָעֶ֖רֶב לְמָֽחֳרָתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־ נִמְלַ֤ט מֵהֶם֙ אִ֔ישׁ כִּי֩ אִם־ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֧וֹת אִֽישׁ־ נַ֛עַר אֲשֶׁר־ רָכְב֥וּ עַל־ הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים וַיָּנֻֽסוּ׃

18David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives.

18וַיַּצֵּ֣ל דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֛ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֖וּ עֲמָלֵ֑ק וְאֶת־ שְׁתֵּ֥י נָשָׁ֖יו הִצִּ֥יל דָּוִֽד׃

19Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back.

19וְלֹ֣א נֶעְדַּר־ לָ֠הֶם מִן־ הַקָּטֹ֨ן וְעַד־ הַגָּד֜וֹל וְעַד־ בָּנִ֤ים וּבָנוֹת֙ וּמִשָּׁלָ֔ל וְעַ֛ד כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם הַכֹּ֖ל הֵשִׁ֥יב דָּוִֽד׃

20He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.

20וַיִּקַּ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־ כָּל־ הַצֹּ֖אן וְהַבָּקָ֑ר נָהֲג֗וּ לִפְנֵי֙ הַמִּקְנֶ֣ה הַה֔וּא וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ זֶ֖ה שְׁלַ֥ל דָּוִֽד׃

21Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully.

21וַיָּבֹ֣א דָוִ֗ד אֶל־ מָאתַ֨יִם הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים אֲשֶֽׁר־ פִּגְּר֣וּ ׀ מִלֶּ֣כֶת ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֗ד וַיֹּֽשִׁיבֻם֙ בְּנַ֣חַל הַבְּשׂ֔וֹר וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֔ד וְלִקְרַ֖את הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ דָּוִד֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם וַיִּשְׁאַ֥ל לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ ס

22But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”

22וַיַּ֜עַן כָּל־ אִֽישׁ־ רָ֣ע וּבְלִיַּ֗עַל מֵֽהָאֲנָשִׁים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלְכ֣וּ עִם־ דָּוִד֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־ הָלְכ֣וּ עִמִּ֔י לֹֽא־ נִתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֔ם מֵהַשָּׁלָ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִצַּ֑לְנוּ כִּֽי־ אִם־ אִ֤ישׁ אֶת־ אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ וְאֶת־ בָּנָ֔יו וְיִנְהֲג֖וּ וְיֵלֵֽכוּ׃ ס

23But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us.

23וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד לֹֽא־ תַעֲשׂ֥וּ כֵ֖ן אֶחָ֑י אֵ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֥ה לָ֙נוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁמֹ֣ר אֹתָ֔נוּ וַיִּתֵּ֗ן אֶֽת־ הַגְּד֛וּד הַבָּ֥א עָלֵ֖ינוּ בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃

24Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.”

24וּמִי֙ יִשְׁמַ֣ע לָכֶ֔ם לַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֞י כְּחֵ֣לֶק ׀ הַיֹּרֵ֣ד בַּמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וּֽכְחֵ֛לֶק הַיֹּשֵׁ֥ב עַל־ הַכֵּלִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֥ו יַחֲלֹֽקוּ׃ ס

25From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today.

25וַיְהִ֕י מֵֽהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָמָ֑עְלָה וַיְשִׂמֶ֜הָ לְחֹ֤ק וּלְמִשְׁפָּט֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ פ

26When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the LORD’s enemies,” he said.

26וַיָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶל־ צִ֣קְלַ֔ג וַיְשַׁלַּ֧ח מֵֽהַשָּׁלָ֛ל לְזִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֤ה לָכֶם֙ בְּרָכָ֔ה מִשְּׁלַ֖ל אֹיְבֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

27The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir,

27לַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּבֵֽית־ אֵ֛ל וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרָמֽוֹת־ נֶ֖גֶב וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיַתִּֽר׃

28Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa,

28וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בַּעֲרֹעֵ֛ר וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּשִֽׂפְמ֖וֹת וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּאֶשְׁתְּמֹֽעַ׃ ס

29Racal, the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites,

29וְלַאֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּרָכָ֗ל וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִ֔י וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעָרֵ֥י הַקֵּינִֽי׃

30Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach,

30וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּחָרְמָ֛ה וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּבוֹר־ עָשָׁ֖ן וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּעֲתָֽךְ׃

31Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited.

31וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וּֽלְכָל־ הַמְּקֹמ֛וֹת אֲשֶֽׁר־ הִתְהַלֶּךְ־ שָׁ֥ם דָּוִ֖ד ה֥וּא וַאֲנָשָֽׁיו׃ פ

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.