1 Samuel 30:6-15

New International Version

⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning^(A) him; each one was bitter^(B) in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength^(C) in the Lord his God.

⁷ Then David said to Abiathar^(D) the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.^(E)” Abiathar brought it to him, ⁸ and David inquired^(F) of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed^(G) in the rescue.^(H)”

⁹ David and the six hundred men^(I) with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. ¹⁰ Two hundred of them were too exhausted^(J) to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.

¹¹ They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat— ¹² part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived,^(K) for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.

¹³ David asked him, “Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?”

He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite.^(L) My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. ¹⁴ We raided the Negev of the Kerethites,^(M) some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb.^(N) And we burned^(O) Ziklag.”

¹⁵ David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?”

He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master,^(P) and I will take you down to them.”