The Philistines Reject David
1
1Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at 2Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by 3the spring that is in 4Jezreel.
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As 5the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear 6with Achish,
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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, king of Israel, who has been with me 7now for days and years, and since he deserted to me 8I have found no fault in him to this day."
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But 9the 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 10to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, 11lest 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?
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Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 12'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
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Then Achish called David and said to him, 13"As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that 14you 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.
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So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines."
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And 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?"
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And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight 15as an angel of God. Nevertheless, 16the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)