1 Samuel chapter 29
English Standard Version
1Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day." 4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?"
6Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines." 8And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" 9And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light." 11So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
New International Version
1The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish.
6So 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 you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. 7Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers."
9Achish answered, "I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light."
New American Standard Bible
1Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel. 2And the governors of the Philistines were proceeding on, leading hundreds and thousands, and David and his men were proceeding in the back with Achish. 3Then the commanders of the Philistines said, 'What are these Hebrews doing here?' And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, 'Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found nothing at all suspicious in him since the day he deserted to me to this day?' 4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, 'Make the man go back, so that he will return to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, or in the battle he may become an adversary to us. For how could this man find favor with his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?
6Then Achish called David and said to him, 'As the Lord lives, you have indeed been honest, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the governors. 7Now then, return and go in peace, so that you will not do anything wrong in the sight of the governors of the Philistines.' 8However, David said to Achish, 'But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant since the day that I came before you, to this day, that I cannot go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?' 9But Achish replied to David, 'I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us into the battle.’ 10Now then, rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have risen early in the morning and have light, leave.' 11So David got up early, he and his men, to leave in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Christian Standard Bible
1The Philistines brought all their military units together at Aphek while Israel was camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2As the Philistine leaders were passing in review with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review behind them with Achish.
6So Achish summoned David and told him, "As the Lord lives, you are an honorable man. I think it is good to have you fighting in this unit with me, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until today. But the leaders don’t think you are reliable. 7Now go back quietly and you won’t be doing anything the Philistine leaders think is wrong."
9Achish answered David, "I’m convinced that you are as reliable 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, you and your masters’ servants who came with you. When you’ve all gotten up early, go as soon as it’s light." 11So 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.
New Living Translation
1The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel. 2As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish.
6So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, 'I swear by the Lord that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today. But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it. 7Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.'
King James Version
1Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in 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.
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? 5Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten 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. 7Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
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? 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. 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.
New King James Version
1Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. 2And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish.
6Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you. 7Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.”
9Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.”
What does 1 Samuel chapter 29 mean?
God has told King Saul that Saul's sons will not inherit the throne (1 Samuel 15:27–29). Saul quickly figured out that God would give Israel to David (1 Samuel 18:8–9). Since that time, Saul has tried many times to kill David. But whether Saul throws a spear (1 Samuel 18:10–11; 19:10), sends David into battle (1 Samuel 18:17, 21), or leads an army against him (1 Samuel 23:7–13, 21–29, 24,26), David has consistently refused to fight Saul.Finally, David brought his 600 men and their families to the protection of Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. For sixteen months, David and his men have been fighting Israel's enemies to the south while telling Achish they've been fighting Israel and Israel's allies (1 Samuel 27). Achish has now brought David's group to the unified army of the Philistines to war against Saul and the Israelite army (1 Samuel 28:1–2).
King Saul will see the Philistine army amassed at Shunem, not far from the Israelites' camp at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:4–5). This chapter backs up a bit to find the Philistine forces gathered at a place called Aphek, well south of Shunem, and preparing to march north (1 Samuel 29:1).
The Philistine commanders seem to be reviewing the fighting men. They come to the end of the procession and find a large group of Israelite fighters with Achish. Since they are on the way to fight the Israelites, the commanders ask very reasonably what these Hebrews are doing here. King Achish insists that having David in this battle is an advantage for the Philistines. He says that the former servant of King Saul has deserted the Israelites and has served him faithfully for over a year (1 Samuel 29:2–3).
The Philistine commanders are far wiser than Achish. There's no way these men can be trusted in the heat of battle to fight against their own king. They would most likely turn and start taking Philistine heads to regain Saul's favor. The Philistine rulers also note that David is the warrior from the song who killed "ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7), and those ten thousands were Philistines! They command Achish to send David back home (1 Samuel 29:4–5).
Achish agrees, but he expresses regret that he will not be able to take David into battle with him. David seemingly pretends to have hurt feelings. He asks what he has done to be rejected this way. It's all but certain David had no intent of fighting his own people. So, this development keeps him from needing any further subterfuge. Achish agrees that David is an angel from God, but the Philistine rulers have made their decision. He commands David and his men to return to Ziklag at first light, and they do (1 Samuel 29:6–11).
When David and his men reach Ziklag, they find their city burned and their wives and children taken by the Amalekites. Despite being fatigued by the long march, they catch up and easily retrieve their families (1 Samuel 30). David doesn't learn until later that God kept him from fighting the army he will later command in the battle in which Saul and three of his sons, including Jonathan, were killed (1 Samuel 31). God has opened the way for David to be king.
