The Philistine Commanders Reject David
1The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring in Jezreel. 2As the Philistine rulers marched by in units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched at the rear with Achish. 3The Philistine commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish said to the commanders, “This is David, who served Saul king of Israel. He has been with me for days now, or rather years, and I have found no fault in him from the day he came over to me until today.” 4But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and said, “Send the man back — let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle, or he might turn against us in the heat of battle. What better way could he regain his master’s favor than with the heads of our own men? 5Isn’t this the David they sing about in their dances, saying, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 6So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as Yahweh lives, you have been honest, and I would be pleased to have you march out and in with me in the army — I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until today. But the rulers do not approve of you. 7So now go back, and go in peace, and do not displease the Philistine rulers.” 8David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9Achish answered David, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10Now then, get up early in the morning, you and your master’s servants who came with you, and as soon as it is light, go.” 11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, while the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
