< 1 Samuel 29 >

1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts, towards Aphek, —and, the Israelites, were encamping by the fountain, that is in Jezreel.
And the Philistines gather all their armies to Aphec, and Israel encamped in Aendor, which is in Jezrael.
2 And, the lords of the Philistines, were passing on by hundreds, and by thousands, —but, David and his men, were passing on in the rear, with Achish.
And the lords of the Philistines went on by hundreds and thousands, and David and his men went on in the rear with Anchus.
3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What are these Hebrews [doing]? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines—Is not this David, servant of Saul king of Israel, who hath been with me this year, or two, and I have found in him nothing, from the day of his coming over unto me unto this day?
And the lords of the Philistines said, Who [are] these that pass by? And Anchus said to the captains of the Philistines, [Is] not this David the servant of Saul king of Israel? He has been with us some time, even this second year, and I have not found any fault in him from the day that he attached himself to me even until this day.
4 But the princes of the Philistines raged against him, and the princes of the Philistines said unto him—Let the man go back, that he may return unto the place which thou didst appoint him, and let him not go down with us, into battle, so shall he not become to us a traitor, in the battle, —for, wherewith, should this fellow gain favour with his lord? Would it not be with the heads of those men?
And the captains of the Philistines were displeased at him, and they say to him, Send the man away, and let him return to his place, where you did set him; and let him not come with us to the war, and let him not be a traitor in the camp: and wherewith will he be reconciled to his master? Will it not be with the heads of those men?
5 Is not this David, of whom they made responses in the dances, saying, —Saul, hath smitten, his thousands, But, David, his, tens of thousands?
[Is] not this David whom they celebrated in dances, saying, Saul has struck his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
6 So Achish called for David, and said unto him—By the life of Yahweh, surely, upright, thou art, and, pleasing in mine eyes, have been thy going out and thy coming in with me, in the host, for I have found in thee no wrong, from the day of thy coming in unto me, until this day, —but, in the eyes of the lords, displeasing, thou art.
And Anchus called David, and said to him, [As] the Lord lives, you [are] right and approved in my eyes, and [so is] your going out and your coming in with me in the army, and I have not found [any] evil to charge against you from the day that you came to me until this day: but you are not approved in the eyes of the lords.
7 Now, therefore, return, and go in peace, —so shalt thou not do wrong in the eyes of the lords of the Philistines.
Now then return and go in peace, thus you shall not do evil in the sight of the lords of the Philistines.
8 Then said David unto Achish—But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant, from the day that I came before thee, unto this day, —that I may not go in and fight, with the enemies of my lord the king.
And David said to Anchus, What have I done to you? and what have you found in your servant from the [first] day that I was before you even until this day, that I should not come and war against the enemies of the lord my king?
9 Then answered Achish, and said unto David, I acknowledge that, pleasing, thou art in mine eyes, as a messenger of God, —notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines, have said, He shall not go up with us, into the battle.
And Anchus answered David, I know that you [are] good in my eyes, but the lords of the Philistines say, He shall not come with us to the war.
10 Now, therefore, rise up early in the morning, thou and the servants of thy lord who have come with thee, —yea, as soon as ye have risen early in the morning, and have light, then depart.
Now then rise up early in the morning, you and the servants of your lord that are come with you, and go to the place where I appointed you, and entertain no evil thought in your heart, for you [are] good in my sight: and rise early for your journey when it is light, and depart.
11 So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines, —but, the Philistines, went up to Jezreel.
So David arose early, he and his men, to depart and guard the land of the Philistines: and the Philistines went up to Jezrael to battle.

< 1 Samuel 29 >