1Los filisteos se reunieron en Afec, y los israelitas acamparon junto a la fuente de Jezrel.2Mientras los capitanes filisteos conducían a sus soldados por batallones y compañías, David y sus hombres marchaban a la retaguardia con Aquis.3Pero los comandantes filisteos preguntaron: ―¿Qué hacen aquí estos israelitas? Aquis les respondió: ―Este es David, siervo de Saúl, que huye de él. Ha estado conmigo durante varios años, y jamás he encontrado en él una falta desde que llegó.4Pero los comandantes se airaron. ―Hazlo que vuelva —le exigieron—. Ellos no irán a la batalla con nosotros. Podrían volverse en contra nuestra. ¿Habrá algún modo mejor de reconciliarse con su amo que volverse contra nosotros durante la batalla?5Este es el mismo hombre del cual las mujeres de Israel cantan en sus danzas: «Saúl mató a sus miles, y David a sus diez miles».6Por fin Aquis decidió llamar a David: ―Te juro por el SEÑOR —le dijo—, que eres un hombre excelente, y desde el día que llegaste no he encontrado nada que me haga desconfiar de ti; para mí sería un placer que me acompañaras a las batallas, pero mis comandantes dicen que no.7Regresa y vete en paz para no desagradarlos.8―¿Qué he hecho yo para merecer este trato? —preguntó David—. ¿Por qué no puedo pelear contra tus enemigos?9Pero Aquis insistió: ―En lo que a mí respecta tú eres tan leal como un ángel del SEÑOR. Pero mis comandantes tienen miedo de que estés con ellos en la batalla.10Por eso, levántate temprano en la mañana y déjanos en cuanto haya amanecido.11Entonces David regresó a la tierra de los filisteos, mientras el ejército filisteo seguía hacia Jezrel.
1Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. (Jos 12:18; Jos 17:16; Jue 7:1; 1 S 4:1; 1 S 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, (Jos 13:3; 1 S 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 S 27:7; Dn 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 S 14:21; 1 S 27:6; 1 S 29:2; 1 S 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 S 18:7; 1 S 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 S 20:3; 2 S 3:25; 2 R 19:27; Sal 121:8; Is 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.’ (Jos 13:3; 2 S 14:17; 2 S 14:20; 2 S 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 Cr 12:19; 1 Cr 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. (Jos 17:16)