1 Samuel 29:2
New International Version
As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish.

New Living Translation
As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish.

English Standard Version
As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish,

Berean Standard Bible
As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

King James Bible
And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

New King James Version
And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish.

New American Standard Bible
And the governors of the Philistines were proceeding on, leading hundreds and thousands, and David and his men were proceeding in the back with Achish.

NASB 1995
And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish.

NASB 1977
And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish.

Amplified Bible
As the Philistine lords (governors) were proceeding on [marching] by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish [the king of Gath],

Christian Standard Bible
As the Philistine leaders were passing in review with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review behind them with Achish.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As the Philistine leaders were passing in review with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review behind them with Achish.

American Standard Version
And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.

English Revised Version
And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Philistine leaders were marching by with their companies and regiments. David and his men were marching in the rear with Achish.

Good News Translation
The five Philistine kings marched out with their units of a hundred and of a thousand men; David and his men marched in the rear with King Achish.

International Standard Version
The Philistine leaders were passing in review among the military units, and David and his men were among them in the rear with Achish.

Majority Standard Bible
As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

NET Bible
When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.

New Heart English Bible
The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.

World English Bible
The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the princes of the Philistines are passing on by hundreds, and by thousands, and David and his men are passing on in the rear with Achish.

Young's Literal Translation
and the princes of the Philistines are passing on by hundreds, and by thousands, and David and his men are passing on in the rear with Achish.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the princes of the rovers passing over by hundreds and by thousands: and David and his men passing over at last with Achish.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the lords of the Philistines marched with their hundreds and their thousands: but David and his men were in the rear with Achis.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And indeed, the princes of the Philistines advanced by hundreds and by thousands; but David and his men were in the rear with Achish.

New American Bible
As the Philistine lords were marching their units of a hundred and a thousand, David and his warriors were marching in the rear guard with Achish.

New Revised Standard Version
As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
- - -

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Tyrants of the Philistines passed by the hundreds and by the thousands, and David and his men passed afterwards with Akish
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the lords of the Philistines went on by hundreds and thousands, and David and his men went on in the rear with Anchus.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Philistines Reject David
1Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. 3Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 28:1-2
Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.” / David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

1 Samuel 27:2-3
So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. / David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.

1 Samuel 30:1-2
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.

1 Samuel 18:5-7
So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well. / As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. / And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

1 Samuel 21:10-15
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. / But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” / Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. ...

2 Samuel 1:1
After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.

2 Samuel 5:1-2
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. / Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

1 Chronicles 12:19-22
Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”) / When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. / They helped David against the raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and commanders in the army. ...

1 Kings 2:5
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.

2 Kings 3:9
So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.

Joshua 10:5
So the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped before Gibeon and made war against it.

Judges 3:13
After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.

Judges 6:33
Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

Judges 7:12
Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Psalm 56:1-2
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack. / My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.


Treasury of Scripture

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rear guard with Achish.

the lords

1 Samuel 29:6,7
Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not…

1 Samuel 5:8-11
They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither

1 Samuel 6:4
Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

but David

1 Samuel 28:1,2
And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men…

Jump to Previous
Achish A'chish David Hundreds Lords Marched Marching Passed Passing Philistine Philistines Princes Proceeding Rear Rearward Rulers Thousands Units
Jump to Next
Achish A'chish David Hundreds Lords Marched Marching Passed Passing Philistine Philistines Princes Proceeding Rear Rearward Rulers Thousands Units
1 Samuel 29
1. David marching with the Philistines
3. is disallowed by their princes
6. Achish dismisses him, with commendations of his fidelity














Philistine leaders
The Philistines were a significant group in the ancient Near East, often in conflict with Israel. The term "leaders" here refers to the rulers or commanders of the Philistine army. Historically, the Philistines were known for their military prowess and advanced weaponry, which often posed a formidable challenge to the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "leaders" can also imply chiefs or princes, indicating their high status and authority within the Philistine society.

marching out
This phrase suggests a structured and organized movement, typical of a military procession. The Hebrew root for "marching" conveys the idea of going forth or advancing, often used in the context of armies preparing for battle. This organized march underscores the Philistines' readiness and discipline as they prepared for conflict.

by hundreds and thousands
This expression highlights the vast number of troops involved, emphasizing the strength and might of the Philistine forces. In ancient military terms, such numbers would indicate a significant and formidable army. The use of "hundreds and thousands" is a common biblical idiom to convey large quantities, reflecting the overwhelming power that Israel often faced.

David and his men
David, the future king of Israel, is in a complex situation here. At this point in his life, he is living among the Philistines, having sought refuge from King Saul. "His men" refers to the loyal followers who accompanied him during his time of exile. This phrase highlights David's leadership and the loyalty he commanded, even in foreign lands.

marching in the rear
This positioning is significant, as it indicates David and his men were not at the forefront of the battle lines. Being in the rear could imply a lack of trust from the Philistine leaders or a strategic placement to keep an eye on them. The Hebrew context suggests a following or trailing position, which might reflect David's precarious situation as a Hebrew among Philistines.

with Achish
Achish was the king of Gath, one of the five principal cities of the Philistines. His relationship with David is complex, as he provided refuge to David but also had to balance the suspicions of his own people. The mention of Achish here underscores the political and personal dynamics at play, as David navigated his survival and future kingship amidst foreign alliances.

(2) And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands.--The orderly advance of this great military nation is thus described. The "lords" a different term to the expression "princes." There were apparently in the Philistine federation five sovereign princes, of whom Achish of Gath was one. Beneath these were other chieftains, who seemingly had great control over the sovereign princes.

David and his men.--David, in return for the lands round Ziklag given him by the King of Gath, seems to have owed a kind of military service to his suzerain Achish. The difference in the arms and equipment of the Israelitish warriors in the division of David, which was marching under the standard of Gath, no doubt excited questions. The general appearance of the Hebrews was, of course, well known to their hereditary Philistine foes.

Verses 2, 3. - The lords of the Philistines passed on. Evidently they were on their march northward, with their troops arranged in divisions, when David's presence in the rearward with the contingent of Achish was noticed. The princes - not the strict word for the Philistine lords (see on 1 Samuel 5:8), but a loose, general term used again in ver. 4 - on having it reported to them in the course of a day or two that there was a body of strange troops in the army of Gath, asked, What do these Hebrews here? Hebrew, "What these Hebrews?" i.e. What mean these Hebrews? using of them the ordinary Philistine term of contempt. Achish answers that these men were the followers of David, who, having deserted from Saul, had been with him these days or these years, i.e. an indefinitely long time, during which he had conducted himself with the utmost fidelity to his new master.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As the Philistine
פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

leaders
וְסַרְנֵ֤י (wə·sar·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5633: An axle, a peer

marched out
עֹֽבְרִ֔ים (‘ō·ḇə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

their units of hundreds
לְמֵא֖וֹת (lə·mê·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Number - feminine plural
Strong's 3967: A hundred

and thousands,
וְלַאֲלָפִ֑ים (wə·la·’ă·lā·p̄îm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Number - masculine plural
Strong's 505: A thousand

David
וְדָוִ֣ד (wə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

and his men
וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו (wa·’ă·nā·šāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

marched
עֹֽבְרִ֛ים (‘ō·ḇə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

behind them
בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֖ה (bā·’a·ḥă·rō·nāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 314: Hinder, late, last, western

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

Achish.
אָכִֽישׁ׃ (’ā·ḵîš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 397: Achish -- king of Gath


Links
1 Samuel 29:2 NIV
1 Samuel 29:2 NLT
1 Samuel 29:2 ESV
1 Samuel 29:2 NASB
1 Samuel 29:2 KJV

1 Samuel 29:2 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 29:2 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 29:2 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 29:2 French Bible
1 Samuel 29:2 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 29:2 The lords of the Philistines passed (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 29:1
Top of Page
Top of Page