1 Samuel 29
Legacy Standard Bible
Achish Makes David Leave the Battle
29 Then (A)the Philistines gathered together all their camps to (B)Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in (C)Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and (D)David and his men were proceeding on in 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, (E)who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and (F)I have found no fault in him from 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 return, that he may 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 with what could this man make himself acceptable to 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 struck his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As Yahweh lives, you have been upright, and (J)your going out and your coming in with me in the camp are pleasing in my sight; (K)for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords. 7 So now, return and go in peace, that you may not do evil in the sight of the lords of the Philistines.” 8 And David said to Achish, “(L)But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 But Achish answered and said 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 to the battle.’ 10 So now, arise early in the morning (O)with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have arisen early in the morning and have light, go.” 11 So David arose early, he and his men, to go in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 29:3 Lit fell
- 1 Samuel 29:4 Lit those
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
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