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1 Samuel 29
New English Translation

David Is Rejected by the Philistine Leaders

29 The Philistines assembled all their troops[a] at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands,[b] David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.

3 The leaders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, “Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time?[c] I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!”[d]

4 But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said[e] to him, “Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don’t let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become[f] our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men?[g] 5 Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced,[h]

‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands’?”

6 So Achish summoned David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have you[i] serving[j] with me in the army.[k] I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opinion[l] of the leaders, you are not reliable.[m] 7 So turn and leave[n] in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!”[o]

8 But David said to Achish, “What have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the present time, that I shouldn’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish replied to David, “I am convinced that you are as reliable[p] as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us in the battle.’ 10 So get up early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come with you.[q] When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave.”[r]

11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return[s] to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 29:1 tn Heb “camps.”
  2. 1 Samuel 29:2 tn Heb “passing by with respect to hundreds and thousands.” This apparently describes a mustering of troops for the purpose of inspection and readiness.
  3. 1 Samuel 29:3 tn Heb “these days or these years.”
  4. 1 Samuel 29:3 tn Heb “from the day of his falling [away] until this day.”
  5. 1 Samuel 29:4 tn Heb “and the leaders of the Philistines said.”
  6. 1 Samuel 29:4 tn Heb “so that he might not become.”
  7. 1 Samuel 29:4 tn Or perhaps, “our men.” On this use of the demonstrative pronoun see Joüon 2:532 §143.e.
  8. 1 Samuel 29:5 tn Heb “in dances.”
  9. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “it is good in my eyes.” Cf. v. 7.
  10. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “your going forth and your coming in.” The expression is a merism.
  11. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “camp.”
  12. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “eyes.”
  13. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “good.”
  14. 1 Samuel 29:7 tn Heb “go.”
  15. 1 Samuel 29:7 tn Heb “and you must not do evil in the eyes of the leaders of the Philistines.”
  16. 1 Samuel 29:9 tn Heb “I know that you are good in my eyes.”
  17. 1 Samuel 29:10 tc The LXX and a couple of Old Latin mss include here the following words: “and you shall go to the place that I have appointed you. Don’t place an evil thing in your heart, for you are good before me.”
  18. 1 Samuel 29:10 tn Heb “when you get up early in the morning and you have light, go.”
  19. 1 Samuel 29:11 tc Heb “to go in the morning to return.” With the exception of Origen and the Lucianic recension, the Old Greek tradition lacks the phrase “in the morning.” The Syriac Peshitta also omits it.
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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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 29:2 The Heb. lacks among
  2. 1 Samuel 29:2 Lit. the hundreds and the thousands
  3. 1 Samuel 29:2 Lit. were passing
  4. 1 Samuel 29:3 The Heb. lacks rather
  5. 1 Samuel 29:3 Lit. fell
  6. 1 Samuel 29:4 Lit. the Philistine leaders
  7. 1 Samuel 29:4 Lit. his
  8. 1 Samuel 29:4 The Heb. lacks there be a better way for
  9. 1 Samuel 29:5 The Heb. lacks same
  10. 1 Samuel 29:5 Lit. they
  11. 1 Samuel 29:6 Or upright
  12. 1 Samuel 29:6 Lit. for you to go out and come in
  13. 1 Samuel 29:6 Lit. until this day
  14. 1 Samuel 29:8 Lit. until this day
  15. 1 Samuel 29:8 Lit. my lord the king
  16. 1 Samuel 29:9 The Heb. lacks You’re
  17. 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.
  18. 1 Samuel 29:11 The Heb. lacks So
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