We had attacked the Negev area where the Kerethites [216] live. We attacked the land of Judah, and in the Negev area where Caleb’s people live. We also burned Ziklag.”
King David sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and all the king’s officers with him. They put Solomon on the king’s own mule.
Benaiah was responsible for leading the Kerethite and Pelethite people. {\cf2\super [204]} Benaiah was Jehoiada’s son. And David’s sons were important officials. They served at King David’s side.
So the Lord my Master said, “I will punish the Philistines. Yes, I will destroy those people from Crete. I will completely destroy those people living on the sea coast.
You Philistine people, you people living by the sea, this message from the Lord is about you. Land of Canaan, land of Palestine, {\cf2\super [15]} you will be destroyed—no one will live there!
The Lord had commanded Joshua to give Caleb son of Jephunneh part of the land in Judah. So Joshua gave Caleb the land God commanded. Joshua gave him the town of Kiriath Arba (Hebron). (Arba was the father of Anak.)
This man’s name was Nabal. [197] He was from Caleb’s family. Nabal’s wife was named Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman. But Nabal was a mean and cruel man.
On the third day, David and his men arrived at Ziklag. They saw that the Amalekites had attacked Ziklag. The Amalekites invaded the Negev area. They attacked Ziklag and burned the city.
The Egyptian led David to the Amalekites. They were lying around on the ground, eating and drinking. They were celebrating with the many things they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.