The Philistines Reject David 1 ULT Now the Philistines had gathered all of their camp{ at} Aphek, and Israel was camping at the spring that{ is} in Jezreel. BSB BSB: Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
2 ULT Now the lords of the Philistines were passing over by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing over in the rear 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 ULT And the lords of the Philistines said,“What{ are} these Hebrews?” And Achish said to the lords of the Philistines,“{ Is} this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And I have not found anything in him from the day of his falling 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 ULT But the lords of the Philistines were angry with him. And the lords of the Philistines said to him,“Make the man return, that he may return to his place that you assigned him there. For he shall not go down with us into the battle, so he does not become an adversary for us in the battle. For by what shall this{ one} make himself acceptable to his master?{ Is it} not by 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 ULT { Is} this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying,‘Saul has struck his thousands, and David his myriads’?” 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 ULT So Achish called to David and said to him,“The life of Yahweh, that you{ are} upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the camp{ is} good in my eyes, for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. But in the eyes of the lords you{ are} not good. 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 ULT And now, return and go in peace, so you do not do evil in the eyes of 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 ULT And David said to Achish,“But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I was to your face to this day, that I may not come and fight with 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 ULT And Achish answered and said to David,“I know that you{ are} good in my eyes like an angel of God. Nevertheless, the lords of the Philistines have said,‘He shall not go up 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 ULT And now, arise early in the morning with the servants of your master who came with you. And you shall arise early in the morning, when light{ is} to you, and go.” 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 ULT So David arose early, he and his men, to go in the morning to return to 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.