1 SamuelChapter 29

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¹The Philistines gathered all their armies at Aphek. Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. ²The Philistine rulers marched out with their groups of hundreds and thousands. David and his men marched at the back with Achish. ³The Philistine commanders asked, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" Achish answered, "Isn't this David? He was a servant of Saul, the king of Israel. He has been with me for a long time, even years. He came over to my side, and since that day I've found nothing wrong with him." ⁴But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They told him, "Send that man back! Let him go back to the place you gave him. He must not go down with us into battle. He might turn against us during the fight. What better way could he win back his master's favor? He could do it with the heads of our men! ⁵Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances? They sang,
'Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.'" ⁶So Achish called David. He said to him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you have been honest. I'd be glad to have you march with me in the army. I haven't found anything wrong with you from the day you came to me until today. But the rulers don't approve of you. ⁷So turn back now and go in peace. Don't do anything to upset the Philistine rulers." ⁸"But what have I done?" David asked. "What have you found wrong with me, your servant, from the day I came to you until today? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my master the king?" ⁹Achish answered, "I know that you are as pleasing to me as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, 'He must not go into battle with us.' ¹⁰So get up early in the morning, along with your master's servants who came with you. Leave as soon as it's light." ¹¹So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.