[8] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q51 (4QSama; 100–50 BCE) with extant verses 22–31.

[9][10][11][12] Extant ancient manuscripts of a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint (originally was made in the last few centuries BCE) include Codex Vaticanus (B;

1 Samuel 23:16), contacted YHWH through Abiathar the priest and received a positive answer (verses 7–8), so he was encouraged to pursue the attackers.

[15] A providential meeting with an exhausted Egyptian who had gone three days without food, and who, after being revived with a fig-cake and raisins, provided David and his men instant information to the raiders of Ziklag, even securing the service to guide them down to the Amalekite camp.

In another coincidence David and his troops arrived just as the Amalekites were obliviously celebrating their victory with feasting, giving a good opportunity to revenge allowing only 400 camel riders to escape.