Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience.
Day 100 and 96
the entire Philistine army now mobilized at a effect, and the Israelites
camped at the spring in Jezreel.
As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds
and thousands, David and his men marched to the rear with King Aish.
But the Philistine commanders demanded, What are these Hebrews doing here?
And Achish told them, This is David, the servant of King Saul of Israel.
He's been with me for years, and I've never found a single fault in him
from the day he arrived until today.
But the Philistine commanders were angry.
Send him back to the town you've given him, they demanded.
He can't go into the battle with us.
What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary?
Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master
than by handing our heads over to him?
Isn't this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances?
Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands?
So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, I swear by the Lord that
you have been a trustworthy ally.
I think you should go with me into battle, for I've never found a single flaw in
you from the day you arrived until today.
But the other Philistine rulers won't hear of it.
Please don't upset them, but go back quietly.
What have I done to deserve this treatment?
David demanded.
What have you ever found in your servant that I can't go and fight
the enemies of my Lord the King?
But Achish insisted, As far as I'm concerned, you're as
perfect as an angel of God.
But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.
Now get up early in the morning and leave with your men as soon as it gets light.
So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines.
While the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.
Three 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.
They had carried off the women and children and everyone else,
but without killing anyone.
When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had
happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more.
David's two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Navel from
Carmel, were among those captured.
David 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.
Then he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring me the ephod.
So Abiathar brought it.
Then 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.
So David and his six hundred men set out, and they came to the brook, Besor.
But two hundred of the men were too exhausted to cross the
brook, so David continued the pursuit with four hundred men.
Along 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.
They 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.
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.
We were on our way back from raiding the Kirithites in the Negev.
The territory of Judah and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklak.
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.
So 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.
David 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.
David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives.
Nothing was missing, small or great, son or daughter, nor
anything else that had been taken.
David brought everything back.
He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them
ahead of the other livestock.
This plunder belongs to David, they said.
Then David returned to the brook Besor, and met up with the two
hundred 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.
But 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.
But 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.
Who will listen when you talk like this?
We share and share alike, those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.
From then on, David made this a decree and regulation for Israel,
and it is still followed today.
When 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.
The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited.
Bethel, Ramoth Negev, Jatter, Oroer, Sifmath, Eshtimoah, Rakel, the towns
of the Jerameelites, the towns of the Kenites, Hormah, Bor Ashan,
Athak, Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited.