| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel. | 1Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. |
| 2As 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. | 2As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. |
| 3But the Philistine commanders demanded, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish told them, “This is David, the servant of King Saul of Israel. He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found a single fault in him from the day he arrived until today.” | 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.” |
| 4But the Philistine commanders were angry. “Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” they demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him? | 4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men? |
| 5Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” | 5Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” |
| 6So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, “I swear by the LORD that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today. But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it. | 6So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders. |
| 7Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.” | 7Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.” |
| 8“What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “What have you ever found in your servant, that I can’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?” | 8“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” |
| 9But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle. | 9Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’ |
| 10Now get up early in the morning, and leave with your men as soon as it gets light.” | 10Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.” |
| 11So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel. | 11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. |
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