1 Samuel 29
29
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 favor? 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.
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1 Samuel 29
29
David Is Rejected by the Philistine Leaders
1 The Philistines assembled all their troops#tn Heb “camps.” at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands,#tn Heb “passing by with respect to hundreds and thousands.” This apparently describes a mustering of troops for the purpose of inspection and readiness. David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.
3 The leaders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, “Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time?#tn Heb “these days or these years.” I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!”#tn Heb “from the day of his falling [away] until this day.”
4 But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said#tn Heb “and the leaders of the Philistines said.” to him, “Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don’t let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become#tn Heb “so that he might not become.” our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men?#tn Or perhaps, “our men.” On this use of the demonstrative pronoun see Joüon 2:532 §143.e. 5 Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced,#tn Heb “in dances.”
‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands’?”
6 So Achish summoned David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have you#tn Heb “it is good in my eyes.” Cf. v. 7. serving#tn Heb “your going forth and your coming in.” The expression is a merism. with me in the army.#tn Heb “camp.” I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opinion#tn Heb “eyes.” of the leaders, you are not reliable.#tn Heb “good.” 7 So turn and leave#tn Heb “go.” in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!”#tn Heb “and you must not do evil in the eyes of the leaders of the Philistines.”
8 But David said to Achish, “What have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the present time, that I shouldn’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish replied to David, “I am convinced that you are as reliable#tn Heb “I know that you are good in my eyes.” as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us in the battle.’ 10 So get up early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come with you.#tc The LXX and a couple of Old Latin mss include here the following words: “and you shall go to the place that I have appointed you. Don’t place an evil thing in your heart, for you are good before me.” When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave.”#tn Heb “when you get up early in the morning and you have light, go.”
11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return#tc Heb “to go in the morning to return.” With the exception of Origen and the Lucianic recension, the Old Greek tradition lacks the phrase “in the morning.” The Syriac Peshitta also omits it. to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
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