1 Samuel 29
Complete Jewish Bible
29 The P’lishtim gathered all their army together at Afek, while Isra’el’s army pitched camp by the spring in Yizre‘el. 2 The leaders of the P’lishtim were passing by with their hundreds and thousands; David and his men were bringing up the rear with Akhish. 3 The chiefs of the P’lishtim asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Akhish answered the chiefs of the P’lishtim, “This is David, who was a servant of Sha’ul, king of Isra’el. He’s been with me now for well over a year, and I haven’t found anything wrong with him between the time he deserted to me and now.” 4 But the chiefs of the P’lishtim became angry and said to him, “Have the man return and go back to the place you set aside for him. Don’t let him go into battle with us, because on the battlefield he might become our enemy. What better way could there be for him to get reconciled with his lord than by [cutting off] the heads of our men? 5 This is David! They used to dance and sing about him,
‘Sha’ul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands’!”
6 So Akhish summoned David and said to him, “As Adonai lives, you have been upright; and I myself would be more than pleased to have you go on campaign with me; because I haven’t found anything wrong with you between the day you arrived and now. However, the chiefs don’t trust you. 7 Therefore, now, go on back; and go in peace, so as not to do what appears bad to the chiefs of the P’lishtim. 8 David said to Akhish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant during the time I’ve been with you that disqualifies me from going and fighting against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Akhish answered David, “I know that you are as good, from my point of view, as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the chiefs of the P’lishtim have said, ‘He is not to go up with us to the battlefield.’ 10 So get up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you; and as soon as you are up and it gets light, leave.” 11 David got up early in the morning, he and his men, to leave and go back into the land of the P’lishtim; while the P’lishtim continued up to Yizre‘el.
1 Samuel 29
Christian Standard Bible
Philistines Reject David
29 The Philistines(A) brought all their military units together at Aphek(B) while Israel was camped by the spring in Jezreel.(C) 2 As the Philistine leaders were passing in review with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men(D) were passing in review behind them with Achish. 3 Then the Philistine commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”
Achish answered the Philistine commanders, “That is David, servant of King Saul of Israel. He has been with me a considerable period of time.[a] From the day he defected until today, I’ve found no fault with him.”(E)
4 The Philistine commanders, however, were enraged with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him.(F) He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the battle.(G) What better way could he ingratiate himself with his master than with the heads of our men? 5 Isn’t this the David they sing about during their dances:
Saul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands?” (H)
6 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As the Lord lives, you are an honorable man. I think it is good[b] to have you fighting[c] in this unit with me, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until today.(I) But the leaders don’t think you are reliable. 7 Now go back quietly and you won’t be doing anything the Philistine leaders think is wrong.”
8 “But what have I done?” (J) David replied to Achish. “From the first day I entered your service until today, what have you found against your servant to keep me from going to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
9 Achish answered David, “I’m convinced that you are as reliable as an angel of God.(K) But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’(L) 10 So get up early in the morning, you and your masters’ servants who came with you.[d](M) When you’ve all gotten up early, go as soon as it’s light.” 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.