WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.727 Day 100 and 96 00:00:05.300 --> 00:00:09.950 the entire Philistine army now mobilized at a effect, and the Israelites 00:00:09.950 --> 00:00:11.720 camped at the spring in Jezreel. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:16.000 As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds 00:00:16.005 --> 00:00:20.080 and thousands, David and his men marched to the rear with King Aish. 00:00:20.845 --> 00:00:24.785 But the Philistine commanders demanded, What are these Hebrews doing here? 00:00:25.485 --> 00:00:29.635 And Achish told them, This is David, the servant of King Saul of Israel. 00:00:30.085 --> 00:00:34.005 He's been with me for years, and I've never found a single fault in him 00:00:34.015 --> 00:00:35.855 from the day he arrived until today. 00:00:36.815 --> 00:00:38.895 But the Philistine commanders were angry. 00:00:39.515 --> 00:00:42.785 Send him back to the town you've given him, they demanded. 00:00:43.215 --> 00:00:45.105 He can't go into the battle with us. 00:00:45.585 --> 00:00:48.925 What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? 00:00:49.470 --> 00:00:52.870 Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master 00:00:53.130 --> 00:00:55.380 than by handing our heads over to him? 00:00:55.950 --> 00:00:59.910 Isn't this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances? 00:01:00.270 --> 00:01:03.500 Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands? 00:01:04.630 --> 00:01:09.240 So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, I swear by the Lord that 00:01:09.240 --> 00:01:11.310 you have been a trustworthy ally. 00:01:11.865 --> 00:01:16.035 I think you should go with me into battle, for I've never found a single flaw in 00:01:16.035 --> 00:01:18.145 you from the day you arrived until today. 00:01:18.825 --> 00:01:21.255 But the other Philistine rulers won't hear of it. 00:01:21.865 --> 00:01:24.525 Please don't upset them, but go back quietly. 00:01:25.405 --> 00:01:27.665 What have I done to deserve this treatment? 00:01:27.925 --> 00:01:28.805 David demanded. 00:01:29.385 --> 00:01:32.925 What have you ever found in your servant that I can't go and fight 00:01:32.925 --> 00:01:34.715 the enemies of my Lord the King? 00:01:35.775 --> 00:01:39.455 But Achish insisted, As far as I'm concerned, you're as 00:01:39.455 --> 00:01:41.075 perfect as an angel of God. 00:01:41.735 --> 00:01:45.145 But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle. 00:01:45.725 --> 00:01:49.955 Now get up early in the morning and leave with your men as soon as it gets light. 00:01:50.985 --> 00:01:54.655 So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines. 00:01:55.210 --> 00:01:57.990 While the Philistine army went on to Jezreel. 00:01:59.540 --> 00:02:04.050 Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, 00:02:04.620 --> 00:02:08.930 they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag. 00:02:09.570 --> 00:02:12.460 They had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. 00:02:13.090 --> 00:02:16.140 They had carried off the women and children and everyone else, 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:17.740 but without killing anyone. 00:02:18.850 --> 00:02:22.160 When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had 00:02:22.160 --> 00:02:25.930 happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. 00:02:26.660 --> 00:02:32.060 David's two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Navel from 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:34.310 Carmel, were among those captured. 00:02:35.010 --> 00:02:39.500 David was now in great danger, because all his men were very bitter about 00:02:39.510 --> 00:02:40.960 losing their sons and daughters. 00:02:41.315 --> 00:02:43.145 And they began to talk of stoning him. 00:02:43.875 --> 00:02:46.715 But David found strength in the Lord his God. 00:02:47.755 --> 00:02:51.555 Then he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring me the ephod. 00:02:52.345 --> 00:02:53.775 So Abiathar brought it. 00:02:54.425 --> 00:02:58.455 Then David asked the Lord, Should I chase after this band of raiders? 00:02:58.655 --> 00:02:59.585 Will I catch them? 00:03:00.385 --> 00:03:03.475 And the Lord told him, Yes, go after them. 00:03:03.915 --> 00:03:06.845 You will surely recover everything that was taken from you. 00:03:08.325 --> 00:03:13.265 So David and his six hundred men set out, and they came to the brook, Besor. 00:03:13.945 --> 00:03:16.725 But two hundred of the men were too exhausted to cross the 00:03:16.725 --> 00:03:20.255 brook, so David continued the pursuit with four hundred men. 00:03:21.435 --> 00:03:25.495 Along the way they found an Egyptian man in a field and brought him to David. 00:03:26.145 --> 00:03:28.945 They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink. 00:03:29.565 --> 00:03:33.045 They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. 00:03:33.425 --> 00:03:37.045 For he hadn't had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. 00:03:37.675 --> 00:03:39.375 Before long, his strength returned. 00:03:40.475 --> 00:03:43.215 To whom do you belong, and where do you come from? 00:03:43.435 --> 00:03:44.235 David asked him. 00:03:45.355 --> 00:03:49.785 I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite, he replied. 00:03:50.605 --> 00:03:53.775 My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. 00:03:54.535 --> 00:03:58.535 We were on our way back from raiding the Kirithites in the Negev. 00:03:59.085 --> 00:04:03.835 The territory of Judah and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklak. 00:04:04.955 --> 00:04:07.225 Will you lead me to this band of raiders? 00:04:07.565 --> 00:04:08.375 David asked. 00:04:08.985 --> 00:04:12.825 The young man replied, If you take an oath in God's name that you will 00:04:12.825 --> 00:04:17.095 not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them. 00:04:18.125 --> 00:04:19.625 So he led David to them. 00:04:19.855 --> 00:04:24.625 And they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking 00:04:24.705 --> 00:04:28.975 and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from 00:04:28.975 --> 00:04:31.075 the Philistines and the land of Judah. 00:04:31.995 --> 00:04:36.595 David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night 00:04:36.605 --> 00:04:38.775 and the entire next day until evening. 00:04:39.465 --> 00:04:44.275 None of the Amalekites escaped, except 400 young men who fled on camels. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:50.340 David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. 00:04:50.880 --> 00:04:54.990 Nothing was missing, small or great, son or daughter, nor 00:04:55.020 --> 00:04:56.820 anything else that had been taken. 00:04:57.425 --> 00:04:59.095 David brought everything back. 00:04:59.575 --> 00:05:03.565 He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them 00:05:03.565 --> 00:05:05.075 ahead of the other livestock. 00:05:05.655 --> 00:05:08.085 This plunder belongs to David, they said. 00:05:09.415 --> 00:05:13.115 Then David returned to the brook Besor, and met up with the two 00:05:13.115 --> 00:05:14.865 hundred men who had been left behind. 00:05:15.150 --> 00:05:17.290 because they were too exhausted to go with him. 00:05:18.030 --> 00:05:21.930 They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. 00:05:22.710 --> 00:05:26.780 But some evil troublemakers among David's men said, They didn't 00:05:26.780 --> 00:05:30.260 go with us, so they can't have any of the plunder we recovered. 00:05:30.810 --> 00:05:33.860 Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone. 00:05:35.075 --> 00:05:40.335 But David said, No, my brothers, don't be selfish with what the Lord has given us. 00:05:40.855 --> 00:05:45.355 He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. 00:05:45.945 --> 00:05:47.745 Who will listen when you talk like this? 00:05:48.275 --> 00:05:53.425 We share and share alike, those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment. 00:05:54.115 --> 00:05:57.915 From then on, David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, 00:05:58.395 --> 00:06:00.115 and it is still followed today. 00:06:01.225 --> 00:06:05.205 When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders 00:06:05.205 --> 00:06:06.915 of Judah, who were his friends. 00:06:07.515 --> 00:06:11.455 Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord's enemies, he said. 00:06:12.915 --> 00:06:16.555 The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited. 00:06:17.145 --> 00:06:27.135 Bethel, Ramoth Negev, Jatter, Oroer, Sifmath, Eshtimoah, Rakel, the towns 00:06:27.135 --> 00:06:32.590 of the Jerameelites, the towns of the Kenites, Hormah, Bor Ashan, 00:06:33.070 --> 00:06:38.740 Athak, Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited.