1 Samuel 29

1The Philistines gathered all their armies at Aphek, and Israel encamped beside the spring in Jezreel.

2The lords of the Philistines passed by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men passed in the rear with Achish.

3The Philistine commanders said, "What are these Hebrews?" Achish said to the Philistine commanders, "Is this not David, servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days or these years, and I have found no fault in him from the day he defected until today?"

4The Philistine commanders grew angry with him, and the Philistine commanders said to him, "Send the man back to his place where you stationed him, and do not let him go down with us into battle, lest he become an adversary to us in the battle; for how will this one gain his master's favor? Will it not be with the heads of these men?"

5Is not this David, whom they sang to in dances, saying, 'Saul killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?

6Achish called David and said to him, "As Yahweh lives, you have been upright, and your going out and coming in alongside me in the army is good in my sight—for I have found no evil in you from the day you came to me until today—yet you are not good in the eyes of the lords."

7Now go back and depart in peace, lest you do evil in the sight of the Philistine lords.

8David said to Achish, "What have I done, and what have you found in your servant from the day I have been before you until today, that I may not go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?"

9Achish replied to David, "I know you are good in my eyes, like an angel of God. Yet the Philistine princes have said, 'He must not go up with us to the battle.'"

10Now rise early in the morning with your master's servants who came with you, and get up early in the morning, and when light dawns for you, go.

11David himself and his men rose early to set out that morning and return to the land of the Philistines. The Philistines went up to Jezreel.