Background and Context:
The account of David and his men returning to Ziklag is found in 1 Samuel 30. This event occurs during a tumultuous period in David's life, as he was fleeing from King Saul, who sought to kill him. David had sought refuge among the Philistines, Israel's enemies, and was given the town of Ziklag by Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. David and his men had been living there for over a year, conducting raids against various groups while maintaining the appearance of loyalty to the Philistines.

The Incident at Ziklag:
While David and his men were away, the Amalekites, a nomadic tribe and long-standing enemies of Israel, attacked Ziklag. They burned the town and took captive the women and children, including David's two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. Upon their return, David and his men were devastated to find their city in ruins and their families taken.

1 Samuel 30:3-4 describes the scene: "When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives, sons, and daughters taken captive. So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep."

David's Leadership and Faith:
In the face of this crisis, David's leadership and faith were put to the test. His men, in their grief and anger, spoke of stoning him, blaming him for the disaster. However, David sought strength in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 states, "But David found strength in the LORD his God."

David then inquired of the Lord through Abiathar the priest, asking whether he should pursue the raiding party. The Lord responded affirmatively, promising success. 1 Samuel 30:8 records, "And David inquired of the LORD, 'Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?' 'Pursue them,' the LORD replied, 'for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.'"

The Pursuit and Victory:
David set out with 600 men, but 200 were too exhausted to continue and stayed behind at the Besor Valley. With the remaining 400, David pursued the Amalekites. Along the way, they found an Egyptian servant abandoned by the Amalekites, who guided them to the raiders' camp.

David and his men attacked the Amalekites from twilight until the evening of the next day, achieving a decisive victory. They recovered all that had been taken, including their families and possessions. 1 Samuel 30:18-19 states, "David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back."

Distribution of the Spoils:
Upon returning to the 200 men who had stayed behind, a dispute arose about sharing the plunder. Some of the men who fought argued that those who did not fight should not receive any of the spoils. However, David insisted on fairness and established a principle that those who stayed with the supplies would share equally with those who fought. 1 Samuel 30:24-25 records David's decree: "The share of the one who goes into battle shall be the same as the share of the one who remains with the supplies. They will share alike." This became a statute and ordinance for Israel.

Significance:
This episode highlights David's reliance on God during times of distress and his ability to lead with wisdom and fairness. It underscores the importance of seeking divine guidance and maintaining unity among God's people. David's actions at Ziklag foreshadow his future role as a just and godly king over Israel.