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: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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1 Samuel 29
29
1The Philistines gathered all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites set up camp by the spring in Jezreel. 2The Philistine rulers were marching out in their divisions of hundreds and thousands with David and his men at the rear with King Achish. 3But the Philistine commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”#29:3. This could also be translated, “Who are these Hebrews?” since the text simply says “What these Hebrews?”
Achish replied to the Philistine commanders, “That's David, an officer of King Saul of Israel. He's been with me for a long time, years even, and I haven't found any fault in him since the day he came over to our side up till now.”
4But the Philistine commanders got angry with Achish, and told him, “Send him back to the place he came from, to the town you assigned to him. He can't go with us into battle. What if he turns on us during the fighting? What a great way for him to please his master—by handing over the heads of our men! 5Isn't this the David they sing about in their dances: ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
6So Achish called David over and told him, “As the Lord lives, you are honest and you've done what's right as far as I can see. As far as I'm concerned you should march with me into battle because I haven't found any fault in you from the day you arrived until now. But the other leaders don't approve of you. 7So go back home in peace, and that way you won't do anything to upset the Philistine leaders.”
8“But what have I done?” David asked. “What fault have you found in me, your servant, from the day I came to you until now, that would prevent me from going to fight the enemies of my lord the king?”
9“As far as I'm concerned, you're as good as an angel of God,” Achish replied. “But the Philistine commanders have stated, ‘He can't go into battle with us.’ 10So get up early tomorrow morning and leave with your men as soon as it's light.” 11David and his men got up early in the morning and went back to the country of the Philistines. But the Philistines advanced on Jezreel.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com