[1] The Philistines gathered all their soldiers at Aphek. The Israelites camped by the spring at Jezreel.
[2] The Philistine rulers were marching with their groups of 100 men and 1,000 men. David and his men were marching at the back with Achish.
[3] The Philistine captains asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish told the Philistine captains, “This is David. David was one of Saul’s officers. David has been with me for a long time. I found nothing wrong in David since the time he left Saul and came to me.”
[4] But the Philistine captains were angry with Achish. They said, “Send David back! David must go back to the city you gave him. He can’t go with us into battle. ˻If he is here˼ we will have an enemy in our own camp. He would make his king happy by killing our men.
[5] David is the same person the Israelites sing and dance about when they sing this song: Saul has killed thousands of enemies. But David has killed tens of thousands!
[6] So Achish called David and said, “As sure as the Lord lives, you are loyal to me. I would be pleased to have you serve in my army. Since the day you came to me, I have found nothing wrong in you. Also, the ˻Philistine˼ rulers think you are a good man.
[7] Go back in peace. Don’t do anything against the Philistine rulers.”
[8] David asked, “What have I done wrong? Have you found anything wrong with me since the day I came to you? ˻No!˼ Why won’t you let me go to fight the enemies of my lord the king?”
[9] Achish answered, “I believe that you are a good man. You are like an angel from God. But the Philistine captains still say, 'David can’t go with us into battle.’
[10] Early in the morning, you and your men should go back to the city I gave you. Don’t pay attention to the bad things the captains say about you. You are a good man. So leave as soon as the sun comes up.”
[11] So David and his men got up early in the morning and went back to the country of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.