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OEB 1SA Chapter 29

29 The Philistines had assembled their forces at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by the fountain in Jezreel. 2 The lords of the Philistines were marching past, with hundreds and with thousands, and David and his men marched in the rear guard with Achish. 3 Then the commanders of the Philistines said, ‘What are these Hebrews doing here?’ And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, ‘This is David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has now been with me two years, and I have found no fault in him from the time that he came over to me to the present.’ 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were enraged against him, and said, ‘Send back the man so that he may return to the place where you have stationed him. Don’t let him go down with us to battle – he might become an adversary to us. How could this fellow better ingratiate himself with his master than with the heads of our men? 5 Is this not the David of whom they sang responsively in the dances, saying,

Saul has slain his thousands,

But David his ten thousands?’

6 Then Achish called to David and said to him, ‘As the Lord lives, you are upright, and it is my desire that you should go out and fight with me, for I have found no evil in you from the time that you came to me to the present, but you are not regarded favourably by the lords. 7 Therefore now return and go in peace, so that you do nothing to displease the lords of the Philistines.’ 8 David said to Achish, ‘But what have I done? What have you found in your servant fromt the day that I entered into your service to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?’ 9 And Achish answered David, ‘I know that you are as good in my sight as a Messenger of God, but the commanders of the Philistines have said, “He must not go up with us to the battle.” 10 Therefore now rise early in the morning, with the servants of your lord who came with you, and go to the place where I have stationed you, and do not entertain any evil design in your heart, for you are good in my sight, but rise early in the morning and as soon as it is light, depart.’ 11 So David rose early, together with his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. The Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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