1 Samuel 29
New American Standard Bible
The Philistines Mistrust David
29 Now (A)the Philistines gathered together all their armies to (B)Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in (C)Jezreel. 2 And the governors of the Philistines were proceeding on, leading hundreds and thousands, and (D)David and his men were proceeding in the back 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 nothing at all suspicious in him since 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 go back, so that he will 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 how could this man find favor with 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 slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have indeed been honest, and (J)your [c]going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; (K)for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the governors. 7 Now then, return and go in peace, so that you will not do anything wrong in the sight of the governors of the Philistines.” 8 However, David said to Achish, “(L)But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant since the day that I came before you, to this day, that I cannot go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 But Achish replied 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 into the battle.’ 10 Now then, rise early in the morning (O)with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have risen early in the morning and have light, leave.” 11 So David got up early, he and his men, to leave in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 29:3 Lit fell
- 1 Samuel 29:4 Lit those
- 1 Samuel 29:6 I.e., performance of duties
1 Samuel 29
King James Version
29 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the Lord liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
1 Samuel 29
Living Bible
29 The Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelis camped at the springs in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine captains were leading out their troops by battalions and companies, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish.
3 But the Philistine commanders demanded, “What are these Israelis doing here?”
And King Achish told them, “This is David, the runaway servant of King Saul of Israel. He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found one fault in him since he arrived.”
4 But the Philistine leaders were angry. “Send them back!” they demanded. “They aren’t going into the battle with us—they’ll turn against us. Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by turning against us in the battle? 5 This is the same man the women of Israel sang about in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands!’”
6 So Achish finally summoned David and his men.
“I swear by the Lord,” he told them, “you are some of the finest men I’ve ever met, and I think you should go with us, but my commanders say no. 7 Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.”
8 “What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “Why can’t I fight your enemies?”
9 But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But my commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle. 10 Now get up early in the morning and leave as soon as it is light.”
11 So David headed back into the land of the Philistines while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.