1 Samuel 29:1-6

1The Philistine army put up their tents at Aphek. The Israelites made their camp near the spring of water at Jezreel.

2The Philistine rulers marched out with their groups of soldiers. They were in groups of 100 soldiers and 1,000 soldiers. David and his men were marching with King Achish at the back of the army.

3The Philistine leaders asked, ‘Why are these Hebrew people here?’ Achish said to them, ‘This is David. He was the servant of Israel's King Saul. But he came to me more than a year ago. Since he turned against King Saul and came to me, he has always been faithful to me.’

4But the Philistine leaders were angry with Achish. They said to him, ‘Send David back to the town that you gave to him. He must not go with us to fight the battle. He might turn against us and become our enemy. Then he would start to kill our own soldiers. That would make his master, Saul, very happy!

5Remember who this man David is! The Israelites sing this about him when they dance: “Saul has killed thousands of his enemies. And David has killed tens of thousands of his enemies.” ’

6So Achish called David to come to him. He said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, I know that I can trust you. I would like you to go with me to fight the battle. Since the first day that you came to me, I have never found anything wrong with you. But the other leaders do not trust you.