1 Samuel Chapter 29

The Philistines Reject David

¹ The Philistines gathered their forces to Aphek while the Israelites were camping by the spring in Jezreel. ² The Philistine lords were moving forward by hundreds and thousands; David and his men were moving forward in the rear with Achish. ³ The commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish said, “Isn’t this David, Saul’s servant, that’s been with me these days, or years? I haven’t found a fault in him from the day he deserted to me till now.” ⁴ But the commanders were mad,

“Make him go back to where you’ve assigned him. Don’t let him go down to battle with us and become our adversary during the fight. For how could he make himself acceptable to his lord? Wouldn’t it be with the heads of these men? ⁵ Isn’t this David they sang about in the dances,

            ‘Saul has slain his thousands,

                        David his ten thousands!’?”                                                                   

1 Sam 29:1-5

⁶ Achish called David,

“As sure as Yahveh lives, you’ve been upright. Your conduct with me in the army is fine. I haven’t found anything bad in you since you came, but the other Philistine lords don’t want you here. ⁷ Go back quietly so you won’t upset them.”

⁸ David asked him, “What have I done? What have you found in me since I came to you, that I can’t go and fight my king’s enemies?”

⁹ “You’re pleasing to me, like an angel of God, but the other commanders have said you can’t go into battle with us. ¹⁰ Get up early with your servants and leave as soon as it gets daylight.”

¹¹ David and his men got up early to go back to the land of the Philistines. Then the Philistines went up to Jezreel.            

1 Sam 29:6-11