Add parallel Print Page Options

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. The rulers of the Philistines were passing on according to hundreds and thousands, David and his men passing on at the rear with Achish. 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!” 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? Is this not David about whom they sing in the dances, saying,

‘Saul has killed his thousands,
    but David his ten thousands’?”

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. So then, return and go in peace, so that you do not do something that displeases[e] the rulers of the Philistines.” 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?” 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 chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 29:3 Literally “these days or these years”
  2. 1 Samuel 29:6 Literally “The life of Yahweh”
  3. 1 Samuel 29:6 Literally “good in my eyes your going out and your coming in with me”
  4. 1 Samuel 29:6 Or “army”
  5. 1 Samuel 29:7 Literally “bad/evil in the eyes of”
  6. 1 Samuel 29:8 Literally “that I was to your face” = “was before you”

Philistines Reject David

29 The Philistines(A) brought all their military units together at Aphek(B) while Israel was camped by the spring in Jezreel.(C) As the Philistine leaders were passing in review with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men(D) were passing in review behind them with Achish. Then the Philistine commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”

Achish answered the Philistine commanders, “That is David, servant of King Saul of Israel. He has been with me a considerable period of time.[a] From the day he defected until today, I’ve found no fault with him.”(E)

The Philistine commanders, however, were enraged with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him.(F) He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the battle.(G) What better way could he ingratiate himself with his master than with the heads of our men? Isn’t this the David they sing about during their dances:

Saul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands?” (H)

So Achish summoned David and told him, “As the Lord lives, you are an honorable man. I think it is good[b] to have you fighting[c] in this unit with me, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until today.(I) But the leaders don’t think you are reliable. Now go back quietly and you won’t be doing anything the Philistine leaders think is wrong.”

“But what have I done?” (J) David replied to Achish. “From the first day I entered your service until today, what have you found against your servant to keep me from going to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

Achish answered David, “I’m convinced that you are as reliable as an angel of God.(K) But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’(L) 10 So get up early in the morning, you and your masters’ servants who came with you.[d](M) When you’ve all gotten up early, go as soon as it’s light.” 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 29:3 Hb obscure
  2. 29:6 Lit It was good in my eyes
  3. 29:6 Lit you going out and coming in
  4. 29:10 LXX adds and go to the place I appointed you to. Don’t take this evil matter to heart, for you are good before me.