1 The P’lishtim gathered all their army together at Afek, while Isra’el’s army pitched camp by the spring in Yizre‘el.
2 The leaders of the P’lishtim were passing by with their hundreds and thousands; David and his men were bringing up the rear with Akhish.
3 The chiefs of the P’lishtim asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Akhish answered the chiefs of the P’lishtim, “This is David, who was a servant of Sha’ul, king of Isra’el. He’s been with me now for well over a year, and I haven’t found anything wrong with him between the time he deserted to me and now.”
4 But the chiefs of the P’lishtim became angry and said to him, “Have the man return and go back to the place you set aside for him. Don’t let him go into battle with us, because on the battlefield he might become our enemy. What better way could there be for him to get reconciled with his lord than by [cutting off] the heads of our men?
5 This is David! They used to dance and sing about him,
‘Sha’ul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands’!”
6 So Akhish summoned David and said to him, “AsAdonailives, you have been upright; and I myself would be more than pleased to have you go on campaign with me; because I haven’t found anything wrong with you between the day you arrived and now. However, the chiefs don’t trust you.
7 Therefore, now, go on back; and go in peace, so as not to do what appears bad to the chiefs of the P’lishtim.
8 David said to Akhish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant during the time I’ve been with you that disqualifies me from going and fighting against the enemies of my lord the king?”
9 Akhish answered David, “I know that you are as good, from my point of view, as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the chiefs of the P’lishtim have said, ‘He is not to go up with us to the battlefield.’
10 So get up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you; and as soon as you are up and it gets light, leave.”
11 David got up early in the morning, he and his men, to leave and go back into the land of the P’lishtim; while the P’lishtim continued up to Yizre‘el.