1The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.2As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish.3The commanders of the Philistines asked, ‘What about these Hebrews?’ Achish replied, ‘Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.’4But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, ‘Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favour than by taking the heads of our own men?5Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: ‘ “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands”?’6So Achish called David and said to him, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased for you to serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you.7Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.’8‘But what have I done?’ asked David. ‘What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?’9Achish answered, ‘I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, “He must not go up with us into battle.”10Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.’11So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
1 Samuel 29
King James Version
1Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.2And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.3Then 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?4And 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?5Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?6Then 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.7Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.8And 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?9And 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.10Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master' servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.11So 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
New International Reader’s Version
Achish sends David back to Ziklag
1The Philistines gathered their whole army together at Aphek. Israel’s army camped by the spring of water at Jezreel.2The Philistine rulers marched out in groups of hundreds and thousands. David and his men were marching with Achish behind the others.3The commanders of the Philistines asked, ‘Why are these Hebrews here?’ Achish replied, ‘That’s David, isn’t it? Wasn’t he an officer of Saul, the king of Israel? He has already been with me for more than a year. I haven’t found any fault in him. That’s been true from the day he left Saul until now.’4But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They said, ‘Send David back. Let him return to the town you gave him. He must not go with us into battle. If he does, he’ll turn against us during the fighting. In fact, he might even cut off the heads of our own men. What better way could he choose to win back his master’s favour?5Isn’t David the one the Israelites sang about when they danced? They sang, ‘ “Saul has killed thousands of men. David has killed tens of thousands.” ’6So Achish called David over to him. He said, ‘You have been faithful to me. And that’s just as sure as the LORD is alive. I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. I haven’t found any fault in you. That’s been true from the day you came to me until today. But the Philistine rulers aren’t pleased to have you come along.7So now go back home in peace. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t please the Philistine rulers.’8‘But what have I done?’ asked David. ‘What have you found against me from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against your enemies? After all, you are my king and master.’9Achish answered, ‘You have been as pleasing to me as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, “We don’t want David to go up with us into battle.”10So get up early in the morning. Take with you the men who used to serve Saul. Leave as soon as the sun begins to come up.’11So David and his men got up early in the morning. They went back to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
1 Samuel 29
English Standard Version
The Philistines Reject David
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; Jud 7:1; 1Sa 4:1; 1Sa 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; 1Sa 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.” (1Sa 27:7; Da 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? (1Sa 14:21; 1Sa 27:6; 1Sa 29:2; 1Sa 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’?” (1Sa 18:7; 1Sa 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. (1Sa 20:3; 2Sa 3:25; 2Ki 19:27; Ps 121:8; Isa 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; 2Sa 14:17; 2Sa 14:20; 2Sa 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.” (1Ch 12:19; 1Ch 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)