Now athe Philistines gathered all their forces at bAphek, while Israel camped by the spring in cJezreel.1 Sam 28:1Josh 12:18; 19:30; 1 Sam 4:1; 1 Kin 20:301 Kin 21:1; 2 Kin 9:30 2 As the Philistine lords were proceeding on marching by hundreds and by thousands, and aDavid and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish the king of Gath,1 Sam 28:1, 2 3 the Philistine commanders having noticed David said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish said to the Philistine commanders, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, awho has been with me these days and years, and bI have found no fault in him from the day he deserted to me to this day?”1 Sam 27:71 Sam 27:1-6; 1 Chr 12:19, 20; Dan 6:5 4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and they said to him, “Make this man return, so that he may go back ato his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, bor in the battle he may turn and become our adversary. For how could David reconcile himself to his lord Saul? Would it not be with the heads of these Philistine men?1 Sam 27:61 Sam 14:21 5 Is this not David, aof whom they used to sing in dances,‘Saul killed his thousands,And David his ten thousands’?”1 Sam 18:7; 21:11
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been upright , and your 1abehavior in the army is pleasing in my sight. For from the day you came to me to this day bI have found no evil in you. Nevertheless, 2the Philistine lords do not approve of you.Lit going out and your coming in.Lit in the eyes of the lords you are not good.2 Sam 3:25; 2 Kin 19:27; Is 37:281 Sam 27:8-12; 29:3 7 So return now and go in peace to your place, so that you do not displease the Philistine lords.” 8 David said to Achish, “aBut what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day when I first came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”1 Sam 27:10-12 9 Achish answered David, “I know that you are blameless in my sight, like aan angel of God; nevertheless bthe commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’2 Sam 14:17, 20; 19:271 Sam 29:4 10 So now, get up early in the morning awith your master’s servants who have come with you, and as soon as you are up in the morning and have light, leave.”1 Chr 12:19, 22 11 So David and his men got up early to leave in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel to fight against Israel.