1 Samuel 29
King James Version
29 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward 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, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the Lord liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
1 Samuel 29
International Standard Version
The Philistine Leaders Reject David
29 The Philistines gathered all their troops at Aphek, while Israel was camped at the spring in Jezreel. 2 The Philistine leaders were passing in review among[a] the military units,[b] and David and his men were among[c] them in the rear with Achish.
3 The Philistine leaders said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”
Achish asked the Philistine leaders, “Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather[d] these years? I’ve found no fault in him from the day he deserted[e] until now.”
4 But the Philistine leaders were angry with him, so they[f] pleaded with him, “Send the man back! Let him return to the[g] place you assigned him. He mustn’t go into battle with us. Otherwise, he may become our adversary in the battle! How could there be a better way for[h] this fellow to reconcile himself with his lord? Wouldn’t it be with the heads of these men? 5 Isn’t this the same[i] David about whom the maidens[j] sang when they were dancing,
‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
but David his ten thousands’?”
Achish Sends David Home
6 Then Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you are trustworthy,[k] and it seems good to me for you to campaign[l] with me as part of the army. Indeed, I’ve not found any evil in you from the time you came to me until now.[m] But the leaders don’t approve of you. 7 Now return and go in peace, so you do nothing to displease the Philistine leaders.”
8 David told Achish, “What have I done, and what have you found in your servant from the time I came before you until this very moment,[n] that I shouldn’t go out and fight the enemies of your majesty?”[o]
9 Achish answered David, “I know that I’m pleased with you. You’re[p] like an angel of God. But the Philistine leaders have said, ‘He mustn’t go into battle with us.’ 10 Now, get up early in the morning along with your lord’s servants who came with you.[q] Get up early in the morning, and go as soon as you have light.” 11 So[r] David and his men got up early in the morning to return to Philistine territory, while the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 29:2 The Heb. lacks among
- 1 Samuel 29:2 Lit. the hundreds and the thousands
- 1 Samuel 29:2 Lit. were passing
- 1 Samuel 29:3 The Heb. lacks rather
- 1 Samuel 29:3 Lit. fell
- 1 Samuel 29:4 Lit. the Philistine leaders
- 1 Samuel 29:4 Lit. his
- 1 Samuel 29:4 The Heb. lacks there be a better way for
- 1 Samuel 29:5 The Heb. lacks same
- 1 Samuel 29:5 Lit. they
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Or upright
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Lit. for you to go out and come in
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Lit. until this day
- 1 Samuel 29:8 Lit. until this day
- 1 Samuel 29:8 Lit. my lord the king
- 1 Samuel 29:9 The Heb. lacks You’re
- 1 Samuel 29:10 LXX reads with you and go to the place that I’ve assigned you. Harbor no bitter thought in your heart, for you are acceptable to me.
- 1 Samuel 29:11 The Heb. lacks So
1 Samuel 29
English Standard Version
The Philistines Reject David
29 (A)Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at (B)Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by (C)the spring that is in (D)Jezreel. 2 As (E)the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear (F)with Achish, 3 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, king of Israel, who has been with me (G)now for days and years, and since he deserted to me (H)I have found no fault in him to this day.” 4 But (I)the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return (J)to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, (K)lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,
(L)‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, (M)“As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that (N)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 to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 And 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 may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight (O)as an angel of God. Nevertheless, (P)the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now then rise early in the morning (Q)with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” 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 (R)Jezreel.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
