1 Samuel 28:1-2 & 29:1-11 – A Question Of Loyalty

Translation & Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ The Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 17 Oct. 2021

Introduction

28:1-2 & 29:1-2 – David Drafted Into The Philistine Army

29:3-5 – The Philistine Lords Consider David’s Regiment

29:6-11 – David Is Honorably Discharged

Applications

  1. The question of loyalty is one that we should apply to ourselves. Where does your loyalty lie?

  1. If, however, you are in the place where God has called you to be, are you following David’s example of living a blameless life in the midst of a hostile environment?

  1. If you’re not so sure you’re in the right place and anxious about how it’s all going to turn out, David probably had those feelings too, as we see from his Psalms, but he kept trusting God, and as we see from this story, God took care of David despite all kinds of harrowing situations.

1 Samuel 28:1-2 & 29:1-11Side-by side comparison of versionsA

LXX

Brenton

DRB

KJV

NASB

NIV

NAW

MT

28:1 Καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις καὶ συναθροίζονται ἀλλόφυλοι ἐν ταῖς παρεμβολαῖς αὐτῶν ἐξελθεῖν πολεμεῖν μετὰ Ισραηλ, καὶ εἶπεν Αγχους πρὸς Δαυιδ Γινώσκων γνώσει ὅτι μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐξελεύσει εἰς πόλεμον σὺ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες σου.

28:1 And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered themselves together with their armies to go out to fight with Israel; and Anchus said to David, Know surely, that thou shalt go forth to battle with me, thou, and thy men.

28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered together their armies, to be prepared for war against Israel: And Achis said to David: Know thou [now] assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to the war, thou, and thy men.

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

28:1 Now it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, "Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men."

28:1 X In those days the Philistines gathered their forces X X to fight against Israel. X Achish said to David, "You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army."

28:1 And it happened during those days that the Philistines assembled their army-camps for the muster to wage war in Israel, and Akish said to David, “Know for sure that that it will be with me that you and your men go out into the {battle}.”

28:1 וַיְהִי בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וַיִּקְבְּצוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים אֶת-מַחֲנֵיהֶם לַצָּבָאD לְהִלָּחֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר אָכִישׁ אֶל-דָּוִד יָדֹעַ תֵּדַע כִּי אִתִּי תֵּצֵא בַמַּחֲנֶהE אַתָּה וַאֲנָשֶׁיךָF:

28:2 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αγχους Οὕτω νῦνG γνώσει ἃ ποιήσει ὁ δοῦλός σου· καὶ εἶπεν Αγχους πρὸς Δαυιδ Οὕτως ἀρχισωματο­φύλακαH θήσομαί σε πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας.

28:2 And David said to Anchus, Thus now thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Anchus said to David, So will I make thee captain of my body-guard continually.

28:2 And David said to Achis: X Now thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achis said to David: And I will appoint thee to guard my life for ever X.

28:2 And David said to Achish, SurelyI thou shalt know what thy servant [canJ] do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine headK for everL X.

28:2 X David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant [can] do." So Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for X life."

28:2 X David said X X, "Then you will see for yourself what your servant [can] do." X Achish replied X X, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for X life."

28:2 And David said to Akish, “{Now} then, you’ll know what your servant is doing!” And Akish said to David, “Then I shall appoint you protector of my head all your days!”

28:2 וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-אָכִישׁ לָכֵן אַתָּהM תֵדַע אֵת אֲשֶׁר-יַעֲשֶׂה עַבְדֶּךָ וַיֹּאמֶר אָכִישׁ אֶל- דָּוִד לָכֵן שֹׁמֵר לְרֹאשִׁי אֲשִׂימְךָ כָּל-הַיָּמִים: פ

Intervening text is published with the previous sermon.

29:1 Καὶ συναθροίζουσιν ἀλλόφυλοι πάσας τὰς παρεμβολὰς αὐτῶν εἰς Αφεκ, καὶ Ισραηλ παρενέβαλεν ἐν Αεν[δωρ]N τῇ ἐν Ιεζραελ.

29:1 And the Philistines gather all their armies to Aphec, and Israel encamped in Aen[dor], which is in Jezrael.

29:1 Now all the troops of the Philistines were gathered together to Aphec: and Israel also encamped by the fountain, which is in Jezrahel.

29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel.

29:1 X The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

29:1 Now, the Philistines assembled all their army-camps at Aphek. Meanwhile, Israel was positioning itself at the spring which is in Jezreel.

29:1 וַיִּקְבְּצוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים אֶת- כָּל-מַחֲנֵיהֶם אֲפֵקָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל חֹנִים בַּעַיִן אֲשֶׁר בְּיִזְרְעֶאלO:

2 καὶ σατράπαι ἀλλοφύλων παρεπορεύοντο εἰς ἑκατοντάδας καὶ χιλιάδας, καὶ Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ παρεπορεύοντο ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων μετὰ Αγχους.

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

2 And the lords of the Philistines marched with their hundreds and their thousands: but David and his men were in the rear with Achis.

2 And the lords of the Philistines passed onP by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

2 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.

2 As the Philistine rulers marched with [their units of] hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish.

2 And the Philistine lords went by in hundreds and by thousands. David and his men also went by with Akish, in his rear-guard.

2 וְסַרְנֵיQ פְלִשְׁתִּים עֹבְרִים לְמֵאוֹת וְלַאֲלָפִים וְדָוִד וַאֲנָשָׁיו עֹבְרִים בָּאַחֲרֹנָה עִם-אָכִישׁ:

3 καὶ εἶπον οἱ σατράπαι τῶν ἀλλοφύλων Τίνες οἱ διαπορευ­όμενοι οὗτοι; καὶ εἶπεν Αγχους πρὸς τοὺς στρατ­ηγοὺς τῶν ἀλλο­φύλων
Οὐχ οὗτος Δαυιδ ὁ δοῦλος Σαουλ βασιλέως Ισραηλ;γέγονεν μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν ἡμέρας τοῦτο
δεύτερον ἔτος, καὶ οὐχ εὕρηκα ἐν αὐτῷ οὐθὲν ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας ἐνέπεσεν [πρός μεR καὶ] ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

3 And the lords of the Philis­tines said, Who are these that passS by? And Anchus said to the captains of the Philistines,
Is not this David the servant of Saul king of Israel? He has been with us some time, even this
second year, and I have not found any fault in him from the day that he attached himself [to me] even until this day.

3 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 X years, and I have found no fault in him, since the day that he fled over [to me] until this day?

3 Then said the prin­cesT of the Phil­is­tines, "What do these Hebrews here?" And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines,

"
Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since X he defectedU unto me this day?"

3 Then the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Ach­ish said to the com­manders of the Philis­tines,
"Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or
rather these years, and I have found no fault in him from the day he deserted to me to this day?"

3 X The commanders of the Phil­istines asked, "What about these Heb­rews?" X Achish replied X X X X ,

"Is this not David, who was an
officer of Saul king of Israel? He has [already] been with me for X X X over a year, and from the day he left [Saul] until X now, I have found no fault in him."

3 But the officers of the Philistines said, “Why these Hebrews?” And Akish said to the officers of the Philistines,

“Is this not David, servant of Saul King of Isra
­el,who has been with me these days or these years? Indeed, I have not found anything [wrong] with him, from the time that he fell in {with me} until this day!”

3 וַיֹּאמְרוּ שָׂרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים מָה הָעִבְרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֹּאמֶר אָכִישׁ אֶל-שָׂרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים
V
הֲלוֹא-זֶה דָוִד עֶבֶד שָׁאוּל מֶלֶךְ- יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר הָיָה אִתִּי זֶה יָמִים אוֹ-זֶה שָׁנִיםW וְלֹא-מָצָאתִי בוֹ מְאוּמָה מִיּוֹם נָפְלוֹ עַד
-הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה: פ

4 καὶ ἐλυπήθη­σανX ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ οἱ στρατηγοὶ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ X X Ἀπόστρεψον τὸν ἄνδρα εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ, οὗ κατέστησας αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μὴ ἐρχέσθω μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν εἰς τὸν πόλεμον καὶ μὴ γινέσθω ἐπί­βουλος X X τῆς παρεμβολῆςY· καὶ ἐν τίνι διαλλαγή­σεται οὗτος τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ; οὐχὶ ἐν ταῖς κεφαλαῖς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων;

4 And the captains of the Philistines were displeased at him, and X X they say to him, Send the man away, and let him return to his place, where thou didst set him; and let him not come with us to the war, and let him not be a traitor X X in the camp: and where­with will he be reconciled to his master? Will it not be with the heads of those men?

4 But the prices of the Philis­tines were angry with him, and X X 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 ourZ heads?

4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the prin­ces of the Philis­tines said unto him, "Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For wherewith should he reconcile himselfAA unto his master? Should it not be with the heads of these men?

4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philis­tines said to him, "Make the man go back, that he may return to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, or in the battle he may become an adversary to us. For with what could this man make himself acceptable to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?

4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and X X said, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. X How better could he regain his master's favor X than by [taking] the heads of our [own] men?

4 But the officers of the Philistines got angry at him and {they} said to him, “Make the man go back and let him return to his place that you made him accountable for there, and don’t let him go down with us into the battle so that he doesn’t become an adversary against us in the battle, for with what might this guy make himself acceptable to his master? Wouldn’t it be with the heads of these men?

4 וַיִּקְצְפוּ עָלָיו שָׂרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ שָׂרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּיםAB הָשֵׁב אֶת-הָאִישׁ וְיָשֹׁב אֶל-מְקוֹמוֹ אֲשֶׁר הִפְקַדְתּוֹ שָׁם וְלֹא-יֵרֵד עִמָּנוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָה וְלֹא- יִהְיֶה-לָּנוּ לְשָׂטָן בַּמִּלְחָמָה וּבַמֶּה יִתְרַצֶּה זֶה אֶל- אֲדֹנָיו הֲלוֹא בְּרָאשֵׁי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָהֵם:

5 οὐχ οὗτος Δαυιδ, ᾧ ἐξῆρχον ἐν χοροῖς λέγοντες Ἐπάταξεν Σαουλ ἐν χιλιάσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ Δαυιδ ἐν μυριάσιν αὐτοῦ;

5 Is not this David whom they celebrated in dances, saying, Saul has smitten his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

5 Is not this David, to whom they sung in their dances, saying: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

5 Is not this David, of whom they sang to one another in dan­ces, saying: 'Saul slewAC his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"

5 "Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands'?"

5 Isn't this the David X they sang about in their dances X: "'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?"

5 Is this not Da­vid about whom they celebrated in their circle-dan­ces, saying, ‘Saul struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!’?”

5 הֲלוֹא-זֶה דָוִד אֲשֶׁר יַעֲנוּ-לוֹ בַּמְּחֹלוֹת לֵאמֹר הִכָּה שָׁאוּל בַּאֲלָפָיו וְדָוִד בְּרִבְבֹתוֹAD: ס

6 καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αγχους τὸν Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ζῇ κύριος ὅτι εὐθὴς σὺ καὶ ἀγαθὸς ἐν ὀφθαλ­μοῖς μου, [καὶ] ἡ ἔξοδός σου καὶ ἡ εἴσοδός σου μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ, [καὶ] ὅτι οὐχ εὕρηκα κατὰ σοῦ κακίαν ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας ἥκεις πρός με ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας· καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς τῶν σατραπῶν οὐκ ἀγαθὸςAE σύ·

6 And Anchus called David, and said to him, As the Lord lives, thou art right and approved in my eyes, [and so] is thy going out and thy coming in with me in the army, and I have not found [any] evil [to charge] against thee from the day that thou camest to me until this day: but thou art not approved in the eyes of the lords.

6 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 [any] evil in thee, since the day that thou camest to me unto this day: but thou pleasest not X X the lords.

6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, "Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been uprightAF, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the hostAG is goodAH in my sight. For I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day. Nevertheless X X the lords favor thee not.

6 Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords.

6 So Achish called David and said to him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and X X I would be pleased [to have] you serve X X X with me in the army. X From the day you came to me until now X, I have found no fault in you, but X X the rulers don't approve of you.

6 So Akish called for David and said to him, “As Yahweh lives, [I swear] that you are innocent and good in my eyes, {and so} is your going out and your coming in with me in the army-camp, for I have not found fault in you from the day of your coming to me until this day. But in the eyes of the lords you are not good.

6 וַיִּקְרָא אָכִישׁ אֶל-דָּוִד וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו חַי-יְהוָה כִּי-יָשָׁר אַתָּה וְטוֹב בְּעֵינַי צֵאתְךָ וּבֹאֲךָ אִתִּי בַּמַּחֲנֶה כִּי לֹא-מָצָאתִי בְךָ רָעָה מִיּוֹם בֹּאֲךָ אֵלַי עַד-הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וּבְעֵינֵי הַסְּרָנִים לֹא- טוֹב אָתָּה:

7 καὶ νῦν ἀνά­στρεφε καὶ πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην, καὶ οὐ μὴ ποιήσεις κακίαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς τῶν σατραπῶν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων.

7 Now then return and go in peace, thus thou shalt not do evil in the sight of the lords of the Philistines.

7 X Return therefore, and go in peace, and X offend not the X eyes of the princes of the Philistines.

7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou X displeaseAI not X the X XAJ lords of the Philistines."

7 "Now therefore return and go in peace, that you may not X displease X the X X lords of the Philistines."

7 X X Turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease X X the Philistine rulers."

7 So now, return and go in peace, and don’t do what is faulty in the eyes of the lords of the Philistines.”

7 וְעַתָּה שׁוּב וְלֵךְ בְּשָׁלוֹם וְלֹא-תַעֲשֶׂה רָע בְּעֵינֵי סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים: ס

8 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αγχους Τί πεποίηκά [σοι] καὶ τί εὗρες ἐν τῷ δούλῳ σου ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας ἤμην ἐνώπιόν σου [καὶ] ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, ὅτι οὐ μὴ ἔλθω πολεμῆσαι τοὺς ἐχθροὺς τοῦ κυρίου μου τοῦ βασιλέως;

8 And David said to Anchus, What have I done [to thee]? and what hast thou found in thy servant from the [firstAK] day that I was before thee [even] until this day, that I should not come and war against the enemies of the lord my king?

8 And David said to Achis: But what have I done, or 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?

8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been withAL thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

8 X David said to Achish, "But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

8 "But what have I done?" asked David X X. "X What have you found against your servant from the day X I came to you until X now? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

8 Then David said to Akish, “But what have I done? And what have you found against your servant from the day when I started being in your presence until this day, that I shouldn’t go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

8 וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-אָכִישׁ כִּי AM מֶה עָשִׂיתִי וּמַה-מָּצָאתָ בְעַבְדְּךָ מִיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר הָיִיתִי לְפָנֶיךָ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה כִּי לֹא אָבוֹא וְנִלְחַמְתִּי בְּאֹיְבֵי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ:

9 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Αγχους πρὸς Δαυιδ X X Οἶδα ὅτι ἀγαθὸς σὺ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου X X X, ἀλλ᾿ οἱ σατράπαι τῶν ἀλλοφύλων λέγουσιν Οὐχ ἥξει μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν εἰς πόλεμον.

9 And Anchus answered David X X, I know that thou art good in my eyes X X X, but the lords of the Philistines say, He shall not come with us to the war.

9 And Achis answering, X 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.

9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

9 But Achish replied to David X X, "I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us to the battle.'

9 X Achish answered X X X X, "I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, 'He must not go up with us into X battle.'

9 And Akish answered David and said, “I know that, in my eyes, you are as good as an angel of God, however, the officers of the Philistines have said that you may not go up with us to the battle.

9 וַיַּעַן אָכִישׁ וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-דָּוִד יָדַעְתִּי כִּי טוֹב אַתָּה בְּעֵינַי כְּמַלְאַךְ אֱלֹהִים אַךְ שָׂרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים אָמְרוּ לֹא-יַעֲלֶהAN עִמָּנוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָה:

10 καὶ νῦν ὄρθρισον τὸ πρωί, [σὺ] καὶ οἱ παῖδες τοῦ κυρίου σου οἱ ἥκοντες μετὰ σοῦ, [καὶ πορεύεσθε εἰς τὸν τόπον, οὗ κατέστησα ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖ, καὶ λόγον λοιμὸν μὴ θῇς ἐν καρδίᾳ σου, ὅτι ἀγαθὸς σὺ ἐνώπιόν μου·] καὶ ὀρθρίσ­ατε ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, καὶ φωτισάτω ὑμῖν, καὶ πορεύθητε.

10 Now then rise up early in the morning, [thou] and the servants of thy lord that are come with thee, [and go to the place where I appointed you, and entertain no evil thought in thy heart, for thou art good in my sight:] and rise early for your journey when it is light, and depart.

10 Therefore arise X 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, X go on [your way].

10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, X depart.

10 "Now then arise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have arisen early in the morning and have light, X depart."

10 X Now get up early X X, along with your master's servants who have come with you, X X and leave in the morning as soon as it is light."

10 So now, wake up early in the morning – {you} and your lord’s servants who came with you, and once y’all have woken up early in the morning and there is light for you, then go.”

10 וְעַתָּה הַשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר וְעַבְדֵי אֲדֹנֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר-בָּאוּ אִתָּךְAO וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּם בַּבֹּקֶר וְאוֹר לָכֶם וָלֵכוּ:

11 καὶ ὤρθρισεν Δαυιδ αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ἀπελθεῖν καὶ X φυλάσσειν τὴν γῆν τῶν ἀλλο­φύλων, καὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἀνέ­βησαν [πολεμεῖν] ἐπὶ Ισραηλ.

11 So David arose early, he and his men, to depart and X guard the land of the Philis­tines: and the Philistines went up to Jezrael [to battle].

11 So David X 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.

11 So David X and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

11 So David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philis­tines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

11 So David X and his men got up early X X in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

11 So David got up early in the morning to go – he and his men – to return to the land of the Phil­istines, while the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

11 וַיַּשְׁכֵּם דָּוִד הוּא וַאֲנָשָׁיו לָלֶכֶת בַּבֹּקֶרAP לָשׁוּב אֶל-אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים וּפְלִשְׁתִּים עָלוּ יִזְרְעֶאל: ס


1Abarbanel suggested that perhaps David committed to merely be Akish’s bodyguard and protect him, but take no offensive against any Israelite. Matthew Henry expressed skepticism of that idea.

2cf. Willett: “David gave this wise answer unto Achish, neither directly promising his help, as Josephus saith, ‘he did prompte polliceri operam, readily promise his help’: neither yet denying the same: but he waited upon God for his direction...”

3This is the majority opinion among Bible scholars, although there are some who advocate for it being located up in the Jezreel Valley closer to Saul’s position at Mt. Gilboa.

4Matthew Henry made an interesting application, writing, “Who would be fond of popular praise or applause when, even that may, another time, be turned against a man to his reproach?”

5McCarter is quoted by Tsumura as saying it was only a “matter of courtesy,” but Tsumura didn’t seem to agree, nor did most other commentators.

6Commentators who came down on this side included Matthew Henry, Goldman, Gill, Jamieson, and Keil & Delitzsch.

7Henry, Gill, & Keil & Delitzsch however, thought that Akish’s description of David’s men as “the servants of your lord” was speaking of Saul as their king. Tsumurah, on the other hand, thought it referred to David as the “lord” of the 600 men with him. The text is ambiguous, but since Akish nowhere speaks of Saul or David as “lord,” I assume he speaks of himself.

8“[Akish] reported the words of the Princes of the Philistims in better manner then they first spake them... teaching us, that when we report a tale from another’s mouth, we should make not the worst but the best of it.” ~A. Willett

92018, Wiph and Stock Publishers, Eugene OR

AMy original chart includes the NASB and NIV, but their copyright restrictions have forced me to remove them from the publicly-available edition of this chart. I have included the ESV in footnotes when it employs a word not already used by the KJV, NASB, or NIV. (NAW is my translation.) When a translation adds words not in the Hebrew text, but does not indicate it has done so by the use of italics (or greyed-out text), I put the added words in [square brackets]. When one version chooses a wording which is different from all the other translations, I underline it. When a version chooses a translation which, in my opinion, either departs too far from the root meaning of the Hebrew word or departs too far from the grammar form of the original text, I use strikeout. And when a version omits a word which is in the original text, I insert an X. (I also place an X at the end of a word if the original word is plural but the English translation is singular.) I occasionally use colors to help the reader see correlations between the various editions and versions when there are more than two different translations of a given word. The only known Dead Sea Scroll containing any part of 1 Samuel 28 of 29 is 4Q51Samuela, which has been dated between 50-25 B.C. and which contains fragments of verses 28: 1-3, 22-25, and 29:1. Where the DSS is legible and is in agreement with the MT, the MT text is colored purple. Where the DSS supports the LXX with omissions or text not in the MT, I have highlighted with yellow the LXX and its translation into English, and where I have accepted that into my NAW translation, I have marked it with {pointed brackets}.

BLit. “camps,” NASB = “armed camps,” NIV & ESV = “forces” (“force” is not the central meaning of this Hebrew word). In v.5, where this word recurs, KJV changes to “host” (usually reserved for translating a different Hebrew word צבא), and NIV changes to “army,” NASB to “camp.”

CNASB, NIV (uncharacteristically), and ESV all follow the MT instead, which reads “camp/army.”

DThe LXX reads as though the word were צאת instead of צבא. The DSS is not legible at this point for comparison. Either Hebrew word would make sense (the latter being a synonym for the word קבץassembled” used earlier in this verse (compare with אסף in 17:1), and the former being used in the phrase “go out to battle” at the end of this verse), and neither changes the overall meaning.

EDSS reads לחמה** “war/battle” instead of the MT’s “camp/army.” The LXX and Vulgate follow the DSS reading. Both would be true ultimately.

FDSS adds *laurzy Jezreel” This piece of information is found in all the mss in 29:1 & 11, but only in the DSS here, so it doesn’t add anything new or different.

GAppears to be reading the MT אתה (“you”) as though it were עתה (“now”). The Vulgate nunc appears to support LXX.

HAll later Greek versions rendered more closely to the MT with fulaka thV kefalhV mou “protector of my head.”

INASB & ESV = “very well,” NIV renders more literally “then.” The same word begins Akish’s reply at the end of the verse, but there KJV switches to “therefore,” and NIV switches to “very well.”

JThe concept of “ability” is not part of the context of the Hebrew or Greek word for “do” here. The ambiguity of David’s response is striking. It seems Akish knows better than to let David out from under his scrutiny, and Akish may have felt that keeping David in his ranks would make it more difficult for him to fight for Israel against the Philistines, because the Philistines he would be fighting next to would be his neighbors that he was beholden to. Perhaps David’s response is a lighthearted acknowledgment that it is only to be expected that the Philistines wouldn’t trust him and would want to keep their eyes on him. David thus avoided making any commitment to Akish one way or the other. (Henry, K&D, Goldman) cf. Willett: “David gave this wise answer unto Achish, neither directly promising his help, as Josephus saith, ‘he did prompte polliceri operam, readily promise his help’: neither yet denying the same: but he waited upon God for his direction...”

KHead” is the literal meaning of the Hebrew word, but NASB, NIV, and ESV render it “body” (which would be a different word in Hebrew).

LIn Greek & Hebrew literally “all the days;” NASB, NIV, and ESV render “for life,” which has the same sense in English.

MAlthough this section is illegible, there is not enough room in the DSS manuscript for all the words in the MT. It appears that the DSS omits the phrases אֶל-אָכִישׁ לָכֵן אַתָּהto Akish, ‘Therefore you’” But these words are in the LXX and Vulgate. The NIV drops the first phrase “to Akish” but not the second. The addressee (Akish) is already clear from context, however, and the opening conjunction of the quote doesn’t really add information, and the emphatic “you” is not necessary because the following verb is spelled 2nd person singular (“you shall know”), so it makes no difference in meaning, whether or not the words are original.

NThe LXX simply transliterated the Hebrew word into Greek letters, thinking it to be a place name, whereas most English versions translate the Hebrew word into what it means in English. (Some Greek versions did translate it as phgh “fountain.”)

OThere seems to be some debate on the part of Bible scholars as to the location of Aphek. The popular location is on the coastal plain directly above Gath, west of the hill country of Ephraim and south of the Mt. Hermon range. If that is so, then the Jezreel spoken of here could perhaps be the one mentioned in 1 Kings 21:1 and 2 Kings 9:30 as being in close proximity to Samaria. K&D, on the other hand, claimed that Aphek was an as-yet-undiscovered village in the Jezreel valley, much closer to the final battle. Most commentators located Jezreel in the valley known by that name north of the Mt. Hermon range: Goldman wrote that it is “generally identified with Ain Jalud, a copious spring at the foot of Mount Gilboa.” Jamieson wrote, “Jezreel on the northern slope of Gilboa, and at the distance of twenty minutes to the east, is a large fountain, and a smaller one still nearer; just the position which a chieftain would select, both on account of its elevation and the supply of water needed for his troops.” K&D further describe it as “a very large fountain, which issues from a cleft in the rock at the foot of the mountain on the north-eastern border of Gilboa, forming a beautifully limpid pool of about forty or fifty feet in diameter, and then flowing in a brook through the valley.”

PNASB = “proceeding,” NIV = “marched,” The Hebrew word has to do with “going over.”

QWith the exception of 1 Ki. 7:30, every instance of this word in the Hebrew Bible refers to the five leaders of the Philistine pentapolis. All other occurrences follow: Jos. 13:3; Jdg. 3:3; 16:5, 8, 18, 23, 27, 30; 1 Sam. 5:8, 11; 6:4, 12, 16, 18; 7:7; 6-7; 1 Chr. 12:20. Tsumura, notwithstanding, claimed that “sarn” and “sar” were interchangeable and argued against distinguishing between the Philistine “lords” and “officers” in this context, but I didn’t find his argument convincing.

RSymmachus = prosefugen moi (“fled to me”), reflecting the Targum reading, which is also the Vulgate reading. The LXX is the MT reading, though.

SThe consonantal Hebrew word here is the same as the one translated “those passing by/proceeding/marching” in the previous verse. It was used of the children of Israel, as I understand, in reference to their migration from Egypt to Canaan, especially their “passing over” the Red Sea and the Jordan River. The Canaanites called them “those who pass over,” but it wasn’t what the Jews called themselves.

TThis word is used in conjunction with being an officer over a thousand troops in 8:12, 17:18, 18:13 (which also mentions it as an office over 100 troops), thus the NASB, NIV, and ESV = “commanders” (although this isn’t the Hebrew root for “command” צוה).

ULit. “fell,” NASB = “deserted,” NIV = “left

VAkish answers a question with a question, typical of Philistine custom in debate, which may be an indication he is aware that taking David into battle with him should not be done as a matter of course but will need to be deliberated. The sense is not so much a question of identity, even though his words are literally, “Is it not David?” It’s more like a statement of triumph, “Believe it or not, I’ve actually recruited Israel’s superstar warlord to fight for us against Saul!” It’s interesting how those on the other side of the argument turn this phrase against Akish in v.5, saying the same words (“Is it not David?”).

Wcf. 27:7 “Achish exaggerates a little, the better to convince his confederates” ~Goldman
Tsumura, on the other hand, commented that it was a perfectly natural figure of speech to describe a year and 4 months.

XLit. “were pained” cf. Aquila = parwxunqhsan (“were thrown into fits”), Symmachus = wrgisqhsan (“were enraged”), and Theodotian = equmwqhsan (“were angered”)

YAll the later Greek versions render this phrase closer to the MT with satan en polemw (“a satan [transliterating the Hebrew word rather than translating it as “adversary”] in battle”)

ZThe NIV followed the Vulgate here. The Hebrew pronoun is actually “these” not “our,” but the only men present were Philistine troops, so the sense is the same.

AANASB = “make himself acceptable,” NIV = “regain favor”

ABThe Greek, Latin, and Syriac versions, all with far older manuscripts than the oldest-known MT manuscripts, omit the reduplication of the subject “the Philistine officers,” but it doesn’t change the meaning at all, although Tsumurah suggested that the reduplication in the MT might imply a conference among the princes.

ACESV translates more literally “struck down.”

ADThis is a quote from 18:7 which reads the same except for the extra yod in the plural being switched between the two words for “thousand.” In both passages, the Qere recommended correcting the words for “thousands” that were missing the extra yod to the more proper plural spelling including the yod (בְּרִבְבֹתָיו), but it makes no change in meaning. The meaning of the number “ten thousand” is probably not intended to be precise, just as, when we transliterate the Greek word “myriad” into English, we don’t mean precisely 10,000; we just mean a huge number – more than is worth counting.

AESymmachus translated the euthus (“right”) early in this verse as well as this word with forms of arestos (“pleasing”).

AFNIV = “reliable,” ESV = “honest,” but the KJV “right/righteous” is more literal.

AGESV = “campaign” (This is the Hebrew and Greek word for “camp” not the word for “troops.”)

AHThe Hebrew and Greek adjective here is literally “good.” The same word is used at the end of the verse, but there the KJV is oddly paraphrastic, translating it as a verb “they favor.” The NASB is at least consistent in translating both “pleasing” (following Symmachus). NIV renders “pleased… approve,” and ESV renders “right … approve.” Same in v.9 except that there the ESV renders it “blameless.”

AIThis is the same Hebrew and Greek word that the KJV (and most other versions) translated “evil” in v.6.

AJThe KJV and NASB are oddly periphrastic here. The Hebrew and Greek read literally, “… and not do evil in the eyes of the lords...”

AKThis word was added by Brenton; it’s not in the Vaticanus or the LXX.

ALThe Hebrew and Greek read literally, “I was before the face of you.” NASB & NIV changed the verb to “came.” The ESV explained it well with “entered your service” – although they changed the verb, the preposition, and the noun to do it.

AMDavid picked up on the Philistine propensity to ask questions during debate.

ANIn v.4, the Philistine lords said that David couldn’t “go down” (ירד) to the battle, but now Akish is quoting them as saying David can’t “go up” (עלה) to the battle. Perhaps they are synonymous terms, but it makes me wonder if there was some development in the Philistines battle plan that involved more travel uphill (through the Mt. Hermon range?) as opposed to clashing with Israel down in the plain.

AOThe Septuagint and old Latin versions (but not the Vulgate) add another sentence which basically recaps stuff recorded in earlier verses which Akish has already said. It is a curious insertion, and it rings true to what I would expect in his parting words. Unfortunately the DSS is obliterated at this point, so we don’t know whether it would corraborate with the Septuagint or not.

APThe Septuagint and Syriac omit “in the morning” but the Vulgate kept it and inexplicably added “in the night.”

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