1 Samuel 29

The Philistine army assembled at a place that people called Aphek. The Israelites set up their tents {nearby} around a spring in the city of Jezreel.

To get to Aphek, the Philistine soldiers marched in groups of 100 soldiers that were parts of larger groups of 1,000 soldiers. The rulers of the Philistines commanded the entire army. David and his men marched at the end of the army with King Achish. \*

But {on the way to the battlefield} the Philistine rulers asked, “These Hebrews should not be here, marching with us to battle!” Achish replied, “Their leader is David. He previously served 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, he has been completely loyal to me.” \*

But the Philistine rulers became angry with Achish. They said to him, “You must send David and his men back to the city that you gave him! We do not want him to go with us into the battle. If he goes with us, we will have an enemy within our own army! He would make Saul happy with him again by killing our own soldiers! \*

Do not forget that David is the one about whom the Israelite women sing as they dance. They sing, ‘Saul has killed thousands of our enemies, but David has killed tens of thousands of them!’” \*

So Achish summoned David, and said to him, “I swear by God that I know I can trust you. I would like very much for you to fight with me in the army. Since the day that you came to me, you have been completely loyal to me. But the other rulers do not trust you.

So you and your men must go back home. I am not sending you away as an enemy, but as a friend. But the other rulers of the Philistines do not want you to remain with the army.” \*

David replied, “But I have not done anything wrong! Since the time I first came to you until now, I have always been completely loyal to you. So you should allow me to come with you and fight against your enemies!”

Achish replied, “I know I can trust you as much as I would trust an angel from God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘We will not allow David and his men to go with us into the battle.’ \*

So you and the other Israelite men who came to me with you must leave early tomorrow morning. Get up as soon as it becomes light and leave.”

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 marched on towards the city of Jezreel. \*