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1 Samuel 29
New English Translation

David Is Rejected by the Philistine Leaders

29 The Philistines assembled all their troops[a] 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,[b] 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?[c] I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!”[d]

4 But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said[e] 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[f] our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men?[g] 5 Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced,[h]

‘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[i] serving[j] with me in the army.[k] I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opinion[l] of the leaders, you are not reliable.[m] 7 So turn and leave[n] in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!”[o]

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[p] 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.[q] When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave.”[r]

11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return[s] to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 29:1 tn Heb “camps.”
  2. 1 Samuel 29:2 tn Heb “passing by with respect to hundreds and thousands.” This apparently describes a mustering of troops for the purpose of inspection and readiness.
  3. 1 Samuel 29:3 tn Heb “these days or these years.”
  4. 1 Samuel 29:3 tn Heb “from the day of his falling [away] until this day.”
  5. 1 Samuel 29:4 tn Heb “and the leaders of the Philistines said.”
  6. 1 Samuel 29:4 tn Heb “so that he might not become.”
  7. 1 Samuel 29:4 tn Or perhaps, “our men.” On this use of the demonstrative pronoun see Joüon 2:532 §143.e.
  8. 1 Samuel 29:5 tn Heb “in dances.”
  9. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “it is good in my eyes.” Cf. v. 7.
  10. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “your going forth and your coming in.” The expression is a merism.
  11. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “camp.”
  12. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “eyes.”
  13. 1 Samuel 29:6 tn Heb “good.”
  14. 1 Samuel 29:7 tn Heb “go.”
  15. 1 Samuel 29:7 tn Heb “and you must not do evil in the eyes of the leaders of the Philistines.”
  16. 1 Samuel 29:9 tn Heb “I know that you are good in my eyes.”
  17. 1 Samuel 29:10 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.”
  18. 1 Samuel 29:10 tn Heb “when you get up early in the morning and you have light, go.”
  19. 1 Samuel 29:11 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.
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1 Samuel 29
New International Version

Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

29 The Philistines gathered(A) all their forces at Aphek,(B) and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.(C) 2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear(D) with Achish. 3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?”

Achish replied, “Is this not David,(E) who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year,(F) and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”

4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send(G) the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn(H) against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 5 Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances:

“‘Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands’?”(I)

6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day(J) you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers(K) don’t approve of you. 7 Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

8 “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

9 Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel(L) of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders(M) have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10 Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave(N) in the morning as soon as it is light.”

11 So 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.

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