1 Samuel 29Previous Chapter | Next ChapterThe Philistine Leaders Reject David1The Philistines gathered all their troops at Aphek, while Israel was camped at the spring in Jezreel.2The Philistine leaders were passing in review amongThe Heb. lacks amongthe military units,Lit. the hundreds and the thousandsand David and his men were amongLit. were passingthem in the rear with Achish.3The Philistine leaders said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish said to the Philistine leaders, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me these days, or ratherThe Heb. lacks ratherthese years? I’ve found no fault in him from the day he desertedLit. felluntil now.”4But the Philistine leaders were angry with him, and theyLit. the Philistine leaderssaid to him, “Send the man back! Let him return to theLit. hisplace that you assigned him, but he won’t go into battle with us lest he become our adversary in the battle! How could this fellow reconcile himself with his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?5Isn’t this the sameThe Heb. lacks sameDavid about whom the maidensLit. theysang when they were dancing, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his ten thousands’?” Achish Sends David Home6Then Achish summoned David and said to him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you are trustworthy,Or uprightand it seems good to me for you to campaignLit. for you to go out and come inwith me as part of the army. Indeed, I’ve not found any evil in you from the time you came to me until now.Lit. until this dayBut the leaders don’t approve of you.7Now return and go in peace, so you do nothing to displease the Philistine leaders.”8David said to Achish, “What have I done, and what have you found in your servant from the time I came before you until this very moment,Lit. until this daythat I shouldn’t go out and fight the enemies of my lord, the king?”9Achish answered, saying to David, “I know that I’m pleased with you. You’reThe Heb. lacks You’relike an angel of God. But the Philistine leaders have said, ‘He won’t go out with us into battle.’10Now, get up early in the morning along with your lord’s servants who came with you.LXX reads with you and go to the place that I’ve assigned you. Harbor no bitter thought in your heart, for you are acceptable to me.Get up early in the morning, and go as soon as you have light.”11SoThe Heb. lacks SoDavid and his men got up early in the morning to return to Philistine territory, while the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
the military units,
