When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift to you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord”:
Please take my blessing that has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty.” So he urged him, and he took it.
Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company. He came and stood before him, and he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the land, except in Israel. Now take a gift from your servant.”
Let those who favor my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who delights in the peace of His servant.”
You have ascended on high, leading captives in your train; You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there.
Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers to go ahead to you and arrange beforehand your bountiful gift you previously promised, that it might be prepared as a gift, not as a matter of greed.
Saul said to David, “Behold my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you as your wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul said, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
“Please forgive the transgression of your handmaid, for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil will not be found in you all your days.