The Philistines Reject David
Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 1Sa 4:11Ki 20:301Ki 21:12Ki 9:30Jos 12:18Jos 19:301Ki 18:45-461Ki 21:23 As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. 1Sa 28:1-21Sa 29:6-7Jos 13:31Sa 5:8-111Sa 6:4
Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” 1Sa 27:7Dan 6:51Pe 3:161Sa 25:28Jhn 19:6Rom 12:17
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.”
But 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? 1Sa 14:211Ch 12:191Sa 27:6Luk 16:8 Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: 1Sa 21:111Sa 18:6-7Pro 27:14
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands’?”
So 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. 2Ki 19:272Sa 3:251Sa 20:3Psa 121:81Pe 2:121Pe 3:161Sa 27:8-121Sa 28:10 Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.” Num 22:34
“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?” Mat 6:13Psa 34:13-141Sa 12:31Sa 17:291Sa 20:81Sa 26:181Sa 28:22Sa 16:18-19
Achish 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.’ 2Sa 14:172Sa 14:202Sa 19:27Gal 4:141Sa 29:4 Now 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.” 1Ch 12:191Ch 12:221Co 10:131Sa 30:1-22Pe 2:9Gen 22:14Psa 37:23-24
So 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. 1Sa 29:12Sa 4:4Jos 19:18