1 ARST The Philistine army gathered at the Valley of Aphek. The Israelites set up their tents at the city of Jezreel, which was in the same valley. BSB BSB: Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
2 ARST The kings of Philistia divided their men into groups; some groups had one hundred soldiers and some groups had one thousand soldiers. David and his men were marching behind, with King 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 ARST But the Philistine commanders asked,“What are these Hebrews doing here, marching with us to battle?” Achish replied,“Their leader is David. He previously worked for King Saul of Israel, but now he has been living near me for more than a year. During all the time since he left Saul, I have not seen that he has any faults.” 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 ARST But the Philistine army commanders were angry with Achish for allowing David’ s army to be going with them. They said to him,“Send David and his men back to the city that you gave to him! We do not want him to go with us into the battle. If he goes with us, we will have an enemy in our own midst! He would please Saul by killing our own soldiers! 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 ARST Have you forgotten that David is the one about whom the Israelites dance and sing, saying,‘Saul has killed a thousand of our enemies, but David has killed ten thousand of them’?” 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 ARST So Achish summoned David, and said to him,“Just as surely as Yahweh is alive, you have been loyal to me. I would like very much for you to fight along with my army. Since the day that you came to me, I have not found that you have any faults. But the other kings do not trust you. 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 ARST So all of you go back home, and I hope that things will go well for you. I do not want you to do anything that the other rulers of Philistia will not be pleased with.” 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 ARST David replied,“What wrong have I done? Since the day that I first came to you until today, have I done anything that you think is evil? Your majesty, why will you not allow me to go and fight against your enemies?” 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 ARST Achish replied,“I know I can trust you as much as I could trust an angel from God. But the commanders of my army have said,‘We will not allow David and his men to go with us into 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 ARST So early tomorrow morning you and your men must leave. Get up as soon as it gets light and leave.” 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 ARST So David and his men got up early the following morning and returned to the area where the Philistine people lived. But the Philistine army went up to the city of 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.