The Philistines Reject David 1 AKJV Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel. BSB BSB: Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
2 AKJV And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rear guard with Achish. BSB BSB: As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.
3 AKJV Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which has been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell to me to this day? BSB BSB: 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 AKJV And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said to him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which you have appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for with which should he reconcile himself to his master? should it not be with the heads of these men? BSB BSB: 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 AKJV Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? BSB BSB: Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
6 AKJV Then 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 host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day: nevertheless the lords favor you not. BSB BSB: So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight 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 are not good in the sight of the leaders.
7 AKJV Why now return, and go in peace, that you displease not the lords of the Philistines. BSB BSB: Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”
8 AKJV And David said to Achish, But what have I done? and what have you found in your servant so long as I have been with you to this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king? BSB BSB: “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 AKJV And Achish answered and said to David, I know that you are 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. BSB BSB: 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 AKJV Why now rise up early in the morning with your master’s servants that are come with you: and as soon as you be up early in the morning, and have light, depart. BSB BSB: 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 AKJV So 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. BSB BSB: 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.