1 Samuel 29

Chapter 29

The Philistines Reject David

1 The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel.2 As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish.

3 But the Philistine commanders demanded, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”
And Achish told them, “This is David, the servant of King Saul of Israel. He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found a single fault in him from the day he arrived until today.”
4 But the Philistine commanders were angry. “Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” they demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him?

5 Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances,
‘Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”6 So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, “I swear by the LORD that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today. But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it.

7 Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.”

8 “What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “What have you ever found in your servant, that I can’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?”
9 But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.

10 Now get up early in the morning, and leave with your men as soon as it gets light.”

11 So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.

1 Samuel 29

David Is Rejected by the Philistine Leaders

1 The Philistines assembled all their troopst at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel.

2 When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands,t David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.

3 The leaders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, “Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time?t I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!”t
4 But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and saidt to him, “Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don’t let him go down with us into the battle, for he might becomet our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men?t

5 Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced,t
‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands’?”
6 So Achish summoned David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have yout servingt with me in the army.t I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opiniont of the leaders, you are not reliable.t

7 So turn and leavet in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!”t
8 But David said to Achish, “What have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the present time, that I shouldn’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?”9 Achish replied to David, “I am convinced that you are as reliablet as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us in the battle.’

10 So get up early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come with you.s When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave.”t

11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to returns to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.