29
1 Now
the Philistines
gathered together
all their armies
to Aphek; and the
Israelites encamped
by the spring
which is in
Jezreel.
2 The
lords of the
Philistines passed
on by hundreds
and by thousands;
and David and
his men passed on
in the rear
with Achish.
3 Then
the princes of
the Philistines said, “What
about these
Hebrews?”
Achish said to the
princes of the
Philistines, “Isn’t this
David, the servant
of Saul the
king of Israel,
who has been
with me these
days, or rather
these years? I
have found no
fault in him
since he fell
away until today.”
4 But
the princes of
the Philistines
were angry with
him; and the
princes of the
Philistines said to
him, “Make the
man return, that
he may go
back to his
place where you
have appointed him,
and let him
not go down
with us to
battle, lest in
the battle he
become an
adversary to us.
For with what
should this fellow
reconcile himself
to his lord?
Should it not
be with the
heads of these
men?
5 Isn’t this
David, of whom
people sang to
one another in
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 been
upright, and your
going out and
your coming in
with me in
the army is
good in my
sight; for I
have not found
evil in you
since the day
of your coming
to me to
this day.
Nevertheless, the
lords don’t favor
you.
7 Therefore
now return, and
go in peace,
that you not
displease the
lords of the
Philistines.”
8 David said
to Achish, “But
what have I
done? What have
you found in
your servant so
long as I
have been before
you to this
day, that I
may not go
and fight against
the enemies of
my lord the king?”
9 Achish
answered David, “I
know that you
are 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 Therefore
now rise up
early in the
morning with the
servants of
your lord who have
come with you;
and as soon
as you are
up early in
the morning and
have light, depart.”
11 So
David rose up
early, he and
his men, to depart
in the morning,
to return into
the land of the
Philistines; and
the Philistines
went up to
Jezreel.