Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1David and his men arrived in Ziklag on the third day. The Amalekites had raided the Negev and attacked and burned Ziklag.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6David was in an extremely difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him, for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. 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

7David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought it to him,

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

8and David asked the LORD: "Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?" The LORD replied to him, "Pursue them, for you will certainly overtake them and rescue the people."

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

9So David and the six hundred men with him went. They came to the Wadi Besor, where some stayed behind.

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

10David and four hundred of the men continued the pursuit, while two hundred stopped because they were too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor.

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

11David's men found an Egyptian in the open country 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׃

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

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

13Then 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.

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

14We raided the south country of the Cherethites, the territory of Judah, and the south country of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag."

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

15David 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."

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

16So 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 they had taken from the land of 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 slaughtered them from twilight until the evening of the next day. None of them escaped, except four hundred young men who got on camels and fled.

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

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

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

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

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

20He took all the flocks and herds, which were driven ahead of the other livestock, and the people shouted, "This is David's plunder!"

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

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

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 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."

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, "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.

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

24Who 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."

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

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

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

26When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD's enemies."

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

27He sent gifts to those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negev, and in Jattir;

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

28to those in Aroer, in Siphmoth, and in Eshtemoa;

28וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בַּעֲרֹעֵ֛ר וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּשִֽׂפְמ֖וֹת וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּאֶשְׁתְּמֹֽעַ׃ ס

29to those in Racal, in the towns of the Jerahmeelites, and in the towns of the Kenites;

29וְלַאֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּרָכָ֗ל וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִ֔י וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעָרֵ֥י הַקֵּינִֽי׃

30to those in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, and in Athach;

30וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּחָרְמָ֛ה וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּבוֹר־ עָשָׁ֖ן וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּעֲתָֽךְ׃

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

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

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