1 Samuel 29

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

1The Philistines brought all their soldiers together at a place called Aphek. The Israelites set up camp by the spring of water at Jezreel.

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

2The Philistine leaders marched out with their groups of soldiers. David and his men marched at the back with Achish, a Philistine king.

Note"Rereward" is an old word for the rear guard, the soldiers at the back of an army.

3Then 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?

3The Philistine commanders asked, "Why are these Hebrews here?" Achish said, "This is David. He used to serve Saul, the king of Israel. He has been with me for a long time now, even years. Since the day he came to me, he has done nothing wrong."

4And 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?

4The Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They said, "Send that man back. Let him go to the town you gave him. He must not go into battle with us. In the fight he might turn against us. What better way to please his old master than by cutting off our heads?

Note"Wroth" is an old word that means very angry.

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

5This is the same David. People sang about him in their dances. They sang, 'Saul killed thousands, but David killed tens of thousands.'"

6Then 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.

6So Achish called David and said, "As surely as the LORD lives, you have been honest with me. I would be glad to have you march out and back with my army. Since the day you came to me, I have found nothing bad in you. But the other leaders do not trust you.

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

7So go back now, and go in peace. Do not do anything to upset the Philistine leaders."

8And 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?

8David said to Achish, "But what have I done wrong? What have you found against me since the day I came to you? Why can't I go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?"

9And 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.

9Achish answered, "I know you are good in my eyes, like an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said you must not go into battle with us.

10Wherefore 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.

10So get up early tomorrow morning. Take your master's servants who came with you. Leave as soon as it is light."

11So 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.

11So David and his men got up early to leave. They went back to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines marched up to Jezreel.