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The First
Book of Samuel 29
Now all the troops of the Philistines were gathered
together to Aphec: and Israel also camped by the fountain
which is in Jezrahel.
And the lords of the Philistines marched with their
hundreds and their thousands: but David and his men
were in the rear with Achis.
And the princes of the Philistines said to Achis: What
mean these Hebrews? And Achis said to the princes of
the Philistines: Do you not know David, who was the
servant of Saul the king of Israel, and hath been with
me many days, or years, and I have found no fault in
him, since the day that he fled over to me until this
day?
But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him,
and they said to him: Let this man return, and abide
in his place, which thou hast appointed him, and let
him not go down with us to battle, lest he be an adversary
to us, when we shall begin to fight: for how can he
otherwise appease his master, but with our heads?
Is not this David, to whom they sung in their dances,
saying: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
Then Achis called David, and said to him: As the Lord
liveth, thou art upright and good in my sight: and so
is thy going out, and thy coming in with me in the army:
and I have not found my evil in thee, since the day
that thou camest to me unto this day: but thou pleasest
not the lords.
Return therefore, and go in peace, and offend not the
eyes of the princes of the Philistines.
And David said to Achis: But what have I done, and what
hast thou found in me thy servant, from the day that
I have been in thy sight until this day, that I may
not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the
king?
And Achis answering said to David: I know that thou
art good in my sight, as an angel of God: but the princes
of the Philistines have said: He shall not go up with
us to the battle.
Therefore arise in the morning, thou, and the servants
of thy lord, who came with thee: and when you are up
before day, and it shall begin to be light, go on your
way.
So David and his men arose in the night, that they might
set forward in the morning, and returned to the land
of the Philistines: and the Philistines went up to Jezrahel.
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