1 Samuel 30:1-9

1Two days later, when David and his men came to Ziklag, the Amalekites had raided the Negev, including Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it.

2Although they captured the young and old women who were there, they killed no one. Instead, they had taken ⌞the women and other prisoners⌟ and gone away.

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

4Then David and his men cried loudly until they didn’t have the strength to cry anymore.

5The Amalekites also captured David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel.

6David was in great distress because the people in their bitterness said he should be stoned. (They were thinking of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.)

7David told the priest Abiathar, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring me the priestly ephod.”  So Abiathar brought David the ephod.

8Then David asked the Lord, “Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them?” “Pursue them,” the Lord told him. “You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.”

9So David and his 600 men went to the Besor Valley, where some were left behind.