6. Now  when  Da\dd  found  that  ZiUag  waa
laid  waste,  and  that  it  was  all  spoiled,  and  that
as  well  as  his  own  wives,  who  were  two,  as  the
wives  of  his  companions,  with  their  chUdi'en,
were  made  captives,  L-9  presently  rent  his  clothes,
weeping  and  lamenting,  together  with  Ids  fiiends;
and  indeed  he  was  so  cast  down  with  these  niis-
foi-tunes,  that  at  length  tears  themselves  failed
him. He  was  also  in  danger  of  being  stoned  to
death  by  his  companions,  who  were  greatly
afflicted  at  the  capti\'ity  of  their  -wives  and  chil-
dren, for  they  laid  the  blame  upon  him  of  what
had  happened ;  but  when  he  had  recovered  him-
self out  of  his  grief,  and  had  raised  up  his  mind
to  God,  he  desired  the  high  priest  Abiathar  to
put  on  his  sacerdotal  garments,  and  to  inquire  of
God,  and  to  prophecy  to  him,  Whether  God
would  grant,  that  if  he  pursued  after  the  Amale-
kites,  he  should  overtake  them,  and  save  their
wives  and  their  children,  and  avenge  himself  on
the  enemies? — and  when  the  high  priest  bade
him  to  pursue  after  them,  he  marched  apace,
with  his  four  hundred  men,  after  the  enemy  ;
and  when  he  was  come  to  a  certain  brook  called
Besor,  and  had  lighted  upon  one  that  was  wan-
dering about,  an  Egjqjtian  by  bii'th,  who  was
almost  dead  with  want  and  famine,  (for  he  had
continued  wandering  about  without  food  in  the
wilderness  three  days,)  he  first  of  all  gave  him
sustenance,  both  meat  and  drink,  and  thereby
refreshed  him. He  then  asked  him  to  whom  he
belonged,  and  whence  he  came. Whereupon
the  man  told  him  he  was  an  Egyptian  by  birth,
and  was  left  behind  by  his  master,  because  he
was  so  sick  and  weak  that  he  could  not  follow
him. He  also  informed  him  that  he  was  one  of
those  who  had  burnt  and  plundered,  not  only
other  pai-ts  of  Judea,  but  Ziklag  itself  also. 