1 Samuel 29
Legacy Standard Bible
Achish Makes David Leave the Battle
29 Then (A)the Philistines gathered together all their camps to (B)Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in (C)Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and (D)David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish. 3 Then the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, (E)who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and (F)I have found no fault in him from the day he [a]deserted to me to this day?” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Make the man return, that he may return (G)to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, (H)or in the battle he may become an adversary to us. For with what could this man make himself acceptable to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of [b]these men? 5 Is this not David, (I)of whom they sing in the dances, saying,
‘Saul has struck his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As Yahweh lives, you have been upright, and (J)your going out and your coming in with me in the camp are pleasing in my sight; (K)for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords. 7 So now, return and go in peace, that you may not do evil in the sight of the lords of the Philistines.” 8 And David said to Achish, “(L)But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 But Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are pleasing in my sight, (M)like an angel of God; nevertheless (N)the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 So now, arise early in the morning (O)with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have arisen early in the morning and have light, go.” 11 So David arose early, he and his men, to go in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 29:3 Lit fell
- 1 Samuel 29:4 Lit those
1 Samuel 29
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Philistines Reject David
29 Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel.(A) 2 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish,(B) 3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years? Since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.”(C) 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, so that he may return to the place that you have assigned to him; he shall not go down with us to battle, or else he may become an adversary to us in the battle. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here?(D) 5 Is this not David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,
‘Saul has killed his thousands
and David his ten thousands’?”(E)
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign, for I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me until today. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you.(F) 7 So go back now, and go peaceably; do nothing to displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish replied to David, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’(G) 10 Now then, rise early in the morning, you and the servants of your lord who came with you, and go to the place that I appointed for you. As for the evil report, do not take it to heart, for you have done well before me.[a] Start early in the morning, and leave as soon as you have light.”(H) 11 So David set out with his men early in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 29.10 Gk: Heb lacks and go to the place . . . done well before me
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.