1 Samuel 29

1 Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

2 As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

3 Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?

5 Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

6 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders.

7 Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”

8 “But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

9 Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’

10 Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.”

11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

1 ¶ Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which [is] in Jezreel.

2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

3 Then 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?

4 And 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?

5 [Is] not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

6 ¶ Then 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.

7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.

8 And 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?

9 And 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.

10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.

11 So 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 And the Philistines gathered all their armies to Aphek: and Israel encamped at Am in Jezreel.

2 And the lords of the Philistines went by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men went behind at Achish.

3 And the princes of the Philistines said, What shall these Ebrams do? And Achish said unto them: Is not this David the servant of Saul king of Israel, which hath been with me year and day, and hath found nothing in him from the time he fell away until now?

4 And the lords of the Philistines were wroth with him, and said unto him, Let the man return, and abide in his place whither thou hast appointed him, lest he go down to battle with us, and be our adversary in the battle. For in what will he please his lord better than in the heads of these men?

5 Is not he David, of whom they sang in the round dance, saying, Saul hath slain a thousand, but David ten thousand?

6 And Achish called David, and said unto him, As surely as the LORD liveth, I think thee honest, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the army pleaseth me well, and I have not seen any evil in thee since the time that thou camest unto me unto this day: but thou pleasest not with the princes.

7 Now therefore return, and go in peace, that thou do not evil in the sight of the lords of the Philistines.

8 And David said unto Achish, What have I done, and what hast thou reproved thy servant, from the time that I was before thee until now, that I should not come and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

9 And Achish answered and said unto David, I know it: for thou art pleasing in mine eyes, as an angel of God. But the princes of the Philistines have said, Let him not go up with us to battle.

10 Now therefore arise early in the morning, and thy master's servants that are come with thee: and when ye have risen early in the morning, that it may be light, go.

11 So David and his men rose up early, and went in the morning, and returned into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.