1 Samuel 29
New King James Version
The Philistines Reject David
29 Then (A)the Philistines gathered together all their armies (B)at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. 2 And the (C)lords of the Philistines [a]passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but (D)David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. 3 Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”
And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me (E)these days, or these years? And to this day I have (F)found no fault in him since he defected to me.”
4 But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, (G)“Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to (H)battle, lest (I)in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these (J)men? 5 Is this not David, (K)of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying:
(L)‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and (M)your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day (N)I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you. 7 Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.”
8 So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
9 Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight (O)as an angel of God; nevertheless (P)the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants (Q)who have come with [b]you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.”
11 So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. (R)And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 29:2 passed on in the rear
- 1 Samuel 29:10 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX adds and go to the place which I have selected for you there; and set no bothersome word in your heart, for you are good before me. And rise on your way
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”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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