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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
Lexham English Bible
David Leaves the Service of Achish
29 Now the Philistines assembled all their forces at Aphek, and Israel was encamped at the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 The rulers of the Philistines were passing on according to hundreds and thousands, David and his men passing on at 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, who has been with me for days and years?[a] I have not found anything threatening in him from the day of his desertion until this day!” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him and they said to him, “Send the man back so that he might return to his place where you have assigned him! But he will not go down with us into the battle, so that he does not become an adversary to us in the battle. By what could this fellow make himself favorable to his lord? Is it not with the heads of these men? 5 Is this not David about whom they sing in the dances, saying,
‘Saul has killed his thousands,
but David his ten thousands’?”
6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As Yahweh lives,[b] certainly you were honest, and I am pleased to have you marching with me[c] in the campaign.[d] For I have not found any wrong in you from the day you came to me until this day, but in the eyes of the rulers, you are not good. 7 So then, return and go in peace, so that you do not do something that displeases[e] the rulers of the Philistines.” 8 Then David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day that I entered your service[f] until this day, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 And Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are good in my eyes, like an angel of God! However, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us into the battle.’ 10 So then, rise early in the morning, you and the servants of your lord who came with you. When you rise early in the morning and it is light enough for you, leave. 11 So David set out early, he and his men, to leave in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 29:3 Literally “these days or these years”
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Literally “The life of Yahweh”
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Literally “good in my eyes your going out and your coming in with me”
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Or “army”
- 1 Samuel 29:7 Literally “bad/evil in the eyes of”
- 1 Samuel 29:8 Literally “that I was to your face” = “was before you”
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