1 Samuel 29
1599 Geneva Bible
29 4 The princes of the Philistines cause David to be sent back from the battle against Israel, because they distrusted him.
1 So the Philistines were gathered together with all their armies in Aphek: and the Israelites pitched [a]by the fountain, which is in Jezreel.
2 And the [b]princes of the Philistines went forth by [c]hundreds and thousands, but David and his men came behind with Achish.
3 Then said the Princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David the servant of Saul the King of Israel, who hath been with me these days, [d]or these years, and I have found nothing in him, since he [e]dwelt with me unto this day?
4 But the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him, and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, (A)Send this fellow back, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest that in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he obtain the favor of his master? should it not be with the [f]heads of these men?
5 Is not this David, of whom they sang in dances, saying, (B)Saul slew his thousand, and David his ten thousand?
6 ¶ Then Achish called David, and said unto him, As the Lord liveth, thou hast been upright and good in my sight, when thou [g]wentest out and in with me in the host, neither have I found evil with thee, since thou camest to me unto this day, but [h]the princes do not favor thee.
7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the princes of the Philistines.
8 ¶ And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant as long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may [i]not go and fight against the enemies of my Lord the King?
9 Achish then answered and said to David, I know thou pleasest me as an Angel of God: but the princes of the Philistines have said, Let him not go up with us to battle.
10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy [j]master’s servants that are come with thee: and when ye be up early, as soon as ye have light, depart.
11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, and to return into the land of the Philistines: and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 29:1 Or, in Ain.
- 1 Samuel 29:2 Or, captains.
- 1 Samuel 29:2 According to their bands, or ensigns.
- 1 Samuel 29:3 Meaning, a long time, that is, four months and certain days, 1 Sam. 27:7.
- 1 Samuel 29:3 Hebrew, fell, as Gen. 25:18.
- 1 Samuel 29:4 Would not Saul receive him to favor, if he would betray us?
- 1 Samuel 29:6 That is, wast conversant with me.
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Hebrew, thou art not good in the eye of the princes.
- 1 Samuel 29:8 This dissimulation cannot be excused: for it grieved him to go against the people of God.
- 1 Samuel 29:10 With them that fled unto thee from Saul.
1 Samuel 29
New American Standard Bible
The Philistines Mistrust David
29 Now (A)the Philistines gathered together all their armies to (B)Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in (C)Jezreel. 2 And the governors of the Philistines were proceeding on, leading hundreds and thousands, and (D)David and his men were proceeding in the back 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 nothing at all suspicious in him since 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 go back, so that he will 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 how could this man find favor with 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 slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have indeed been honest, and (J)your [c]going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; (K)for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the governors. 7 Now then, return and go in peace, so that you will not do anything wrong in the sight of the governors of the Philistines.” 8 However, David said to Achish, “(L)But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant since the day that I came before you, to this day, that I cannot go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 But Achish replied 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 into the battle.’ 10 Now then, rise early in the morning (O)with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have risen early in the morning and have light, leave.” 11 So David got up early, he and his men, to leave 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 29:6 I.e., performance of duties
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