De andre filisterkonger vil ikke have David med i krigen
1Mens israelitterne lå i lejr oppe ved Jizre’elflodens kilde, havde filistrene mønstret deres samlede hær ved byen Afek.[1]2De fem filisterkonger var troppet op med hver deres hærstyrker, og David og hans mænd var fulgt med i bagtroppen af kong Akish’ hær.3Da de fire andre filisterkonger så David og hans mænd, sagde de til Akish: „Hvad laver de hebræere her?” Han svarede: „Det er David, som i sin tid flygtede fra kong Saul i Israel. Han har været i min tjeneste i årevis, og jeg har aldrig haft noget at udsætte på ham.”4„Send den mand hjem til den by, du har givet ham at bo i,” forlangte de øvrige konger. „Hvis han deltager i krigen, kan vi risikere, at han falder os i ryggen. Her får han jo en perfekt anledning til at genvinde Sauls tillid.5Det er trods alt den selv samme mand, som Israels kvinder hyldede med ordene: ‚Saul har besejret sine tusinder, men David har besejret sine titusinder.’ ”6Så kaldte Akish på David og hans mænd og sagde: „Jeg sværger ved den levende Gud, at jeg sætter pris på den loyalitet, I har udvist,” sagde han. „Hvis det stod til mig, ville I få lov til at følge med os i kamp. Men de andre konger siger nej.7Gå nu stille og roligt tilbage til jeres by, så vi ikke rager uklar med de andre konger.”8„Jamen, hvad har jeg gjort?” udbrød David. „Har jeg ikke altid været loyal over for dig? Hvorfor må jeg ikke få lov til at kæmpe mod min herres fjender?”9„I mine øjne er du som sendt af Gud,” forsikrede kong Akish David, „men det ændrer ikke ved den kendsgerning, at de andre ikke vil have dig med.10Gør nu, som jeg siger, og tag hjem i morgen ved daggry.”11Tidligt næste morgen vendte David og hans mænd så tilbage til filistrenes land, mens hæren drog videre i retning af Jizre’eldalen.
1Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. (Josva 12,18; Josva 17,16; Dom 7,1; 1.Sam 4,1; 1.Sam 28,1)2As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, (Josva 13,3; 1.Sam 28,1)3the 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, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” (1.Sam 27,7; Dan 6,5)4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? (1.Sam 14,21; 1.Sam 27,6; 1.Sam 29,2; 1.Sam 30,1)5Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” (1.Sam 18,7; 1.Sam 21,11)6Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. (1.Sam 20,3; 2.Sam 3,25; 2.Kong 19,27; Salm 121,8; Es 37,28)7So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.”8And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”9And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ (Josva 13,3; 2.Sam 14,17; 2.Sam 14,20; 2.Sam 19,27)10Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” (1.Krøn 12,19; 1.Krøn 12,22)11So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel. (Josva 17,16)