And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I pursue after these robbers, and shall I overtake them, or not? And the Lord said to him: Pursue after them: for thou shalt surely overtake them and recover the prey.

And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he said to him, Pursue; for thou shalt assuredly overtake them and shalt certainly recover.

and David asketh at Jehovah, saying, 'I pursue after this troop, do I overtake it?' And He saith to him, 'Pursue, for thou dost certainly overtake, and dost certainly deliver.'

Then David, questioning the Lord, said, Am I to go after this band? will I be able to overtake them? And in answer he said, Go after them, for you will certainly overtake them, and get back everything.

And David consulted the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue these robbers, and will I overtake them, or not?" And the Lord said to him: "Pursue. For without doubt, you will overtake them and find the prey."

And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and without fail (e) recover [all].
(e) Though God seem to leave us for a time, yet if we trust in him, we will be sure to find comfort.

And David inquired of the Lord,.... That is, by Abiathar, who reported his questions to the Lord in his name:
saying, shall I pursue after this troop? the large company of the Amalekites, as it appears by what follows they were:
shall I overtake them? two questions are here put together, and answers returned to them, contrary to a notion of the Jews; See Gill on 1-Samuel 23:11,
and he answered him, pursue; which respects the first question:
for thou shall surely overtake them; which is an answer to the second question, and a full one, giving full assurance of overtaking; to which is added more than what was inquired about:
and without fail recover all; their wives, sons, and daughters, and the spoil that was taken; or "in delivering thou shall deliver" (p), out of the hands of the Amalekites, whatsoever they had taken.
(p) "eruendo erues", Pagninus, Montanus; "eripiendo erepturus es", Piscator.

He answered - Before, God answered more slowly and gradually, 1-Samuel 23:11-12, but now he answers speedily, and fully at once, because the business required haste. So gracious is our God, that he considers even the degree of our necessities, and accommodates himself to them.