² As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear^(A) with Achish.

28 In those days the Philistines gathered^(A) their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

² David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard^(B) for life.”

⁶ So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day^(A) you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers^(B) don’t approve of you. ⁷ Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

⁴ The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”

They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number^(A) of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague^(B) has struck both you and your rulers.

⁸ So they called together all the rulers^(A) of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?”

They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.^(B)” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

⁹ But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic.^(C) He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.^{[a] 10} So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.^(D)

As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” ¹¹ So they called together all the rulers^(E) of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it^[b] will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.