1 Samuel 29
Expanded Bible
David Goes Back to Ziklag
29 The Philistines ·gathered [mobilized; mustered] all their soldiers at Aphek. Israel camped by the spring at Jezreel. 2 The Philistine ·kings [rulers; lords] were marching with their groups of ·a hundred [hundreds] and ·a thousand men [thousands]. David and his men were marching ·behind [or at the rear with] Achish. 3 The Philistine commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”
Achish told them, “·This is David. He [L Is this not David who…?] served Saul king of Israel, but he has been with me for ·over a year now [L days and years]. I have found nothing wrong in David since the time he ·left Saul [L deserted until today].”
4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send David back to the ·city you gave him [place you assigned him]. He cannot go with us into battle. If he does, ·we’ll have an enemy in our own camp [L he may become an adversary to us]. He could ·please [make himself acceptable to/reconcile himself to] his king ·by killing our own [with the heads of these] men. 5 ·David is [L Is not David…?] the one the Israelites dance and sing about, saying:
“‘Saul has ·killed thousands of his enemies [T slain his thousands],
·but [and] David has ·killed [T slain his] tens of thousands [18:7].’”
6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you ·are loyal [have been trustworthy/reliable/honest]. I would be pleased to have you ·serve in my army [march into battle]. Since the day you came to me [L until the present], I have found no ·wrong [fault; evil] in you. But the other ·kings [rulers; lords] don’t ·trust [approve of] you. 7 Go back in peace. Don’t do anything ·to displease [L evil in the eyes/sight of] the Philistine ·kings [rulers; lords].”
8 David asked, “What ·wrong have [have] I done? What ·evil have [have] you found in ·me [L your servant] from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go fight your enemies, my lord ·and [the] king?”
9 Achish answered, “I know you are as ·good [pleasing to me] as an angel from God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘David must not go with us into battle.’ 10 Early in the morning you and your master’s servants should leave. Get up as soon as it is light and go.”
11 So David and his men got up early in the morning and went back to the country of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Read full chapter
1 Samuel 29
Amplified Bible
The Philistines Mistrust David
29 Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine lords (governors) were proceeding on [marching] by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish [the king of Gath], 3 the Philistine commanders [having noticed David] said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish said to the Philistine commanders, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days and years, and I have found no fault in him from the day he deserted to me to this day?” 4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and they said to him, “Make this man return, so that he may go back to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, or in the battle he may [turn and] become our adversary. For how could David reconcile himself to his lord [Saul]? Would it not be with the heads of these [Philistine] men? 5 Is this not David, of whom they used to sing in dances,
‘Saul killed his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been upright (righteous), and your [a]behavior in the army is pleasing in my sight. For from the day you came to me to this day I have found no evil in you. Nevertheless, [b]the [Philistine] lords do not approve of you. 7 So return now and go in peace [to your place], so that you do not displease the Philistine lords.” 8 David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day when I [first] came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish answered David, “I know that you are blameless in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 So now, get up early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you, and as soon as you are up in the morning and have light, leave.” 11 So David and his men got up early to leave in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel [to fight against Israel].
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Lit going out and your coming in.
- 1 Samuel 29:6 Lit in the eyes of the lords you are not good.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
