1Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek; and the Israelites camped by a spring in Jezreel.
2And the leaders of the Philistines marched their forces by hundreds, and thousands; but David and his men marched in the rear guard with Achish.
3Then some of the leaders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish told them, “Is this not David, an officer of Saul the king of Israel? He has been with me over a year, and I have found him loyal since he left Saul and came to me.”
4And the leaders of the Philistines were angry with the king; and said to him, “Make this fellow return to his place that you have appointed him, but do not let him go to battle with us, for fear that in the battle he becomes an adversary to us; for how better could he reconcile himself to Saul? Would it not be with our heads?
5Is not this David, of whom they sang to each other in dances, ‘Saul killed his thousands, and David his ten-thousands?’”
6Then Achish called David, and said to him, “Surely, as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your conduct with me in the army is good in my sight; I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me to this day; nevertheless, the lords do not favor you.
7Return, therefore, and go in peace, so that you do not displease the lords of the Philistines”.
8And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in me as long as I have been with you until this day, that I may not go and fight against your enemies?”
9And Achish said to David, “I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God; however, the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up to the battle with us.’
10Therefore, rise up early in the morning with your men who are with you; and as soon as have morning light, depart”.
11So David and his men rose early in the morning to depart, and returned to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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