1 Samuel 29

1 The Philistines gathered all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites set up camp by the spring in Jezreel.

Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

2 The Philistine rulers were marching out in their divisions of hundreds and thousands with David and his men at the rear with King Achish.

As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

3 But the Philistine commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” 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.”

Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

4 But 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!

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?

5 Isn't this the David they sing about in their dances: ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

6 So 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.

So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.

7 So go back home in peace, and that way you won't do anything to upset the Philistine leaders.”

Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”

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?”

“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against 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.’

Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’

10 So get up early tomorrow morning and leave with your men as soon as it's light.”

Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.”

11 David and his men got up early in the morning and went back to the country of the Philistines. But the Philistines advanced on Jezreel.

So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.