The Philistines Send David Back
1 The Philistines had brought their whole army to Aphek, while Israel's army was camping near Jezreel Spring. 2-3 The Philistine rulers and their troops were marching past the Philistine army commanders in groups of 100 and 1,000. When David and his men marched by at the end with Achish, the commanders said, “What are these worthless Israelites doing here?”
“They are David's men,” Achish answered. “David used to be one of Saul's officers, but he left Saul and joined my army a long time ago. I've never had even one complaint about him.”
4 The Philistine army commanders were angry and shouted:
Send David back to the town you gave him. We won't have him going into the battle with us. He could turn and fight against us! Saul would take David back as an officer if David brought him the heads of our soldiers. 5 The Israelites even dance and sing,
“Saul has killed
a thousand enemies;
David has killed
ten thousand!”
6 Achish called David over and said:
I swear by the living Lord that you've been honest with me, and I want you to fight by my side. I don't think you've done anything wrong from the day you joined me until this very moment. But the other Philistine rulers don't want you to come along. 7 Go on back home and try not to upset them.
8 “But what have I done?” David asked. “Do you know of anything I've ever done that would keep me from fighting the enemies of my king?”
9 Achish said:
I believe that you're as good as an angel of God, but our army commanders have decided that you can't fight in this battle. 10 You and your troops will have to go back to the town I gave you. Get up and leave tomorrow morning as soon as it's light. I'm pleased with you, so don't let any of this bother you.
11 David and his men got up early in the morning and headed back toward Philistia, while the Philistines left for Jezreel.
Filistieši sūta prom Dāvidu
1 Filistieši sapulcēja visus savus karapulkus Afēkā, bet israēlieši bija uzslējuši nometni pie avota Jizreēlā. 2 Filistiešu augstmaņi nāca ar simtiem un tūkstošiem, un arī Dāvids ar saviem vīriem soļoja pēcpulkā kopā ar Ahīšu. 3 Filistiešu augstmaņi teica: “Kas tie par ebrejiem?!” Ahīšs filistiešu augstmaņiem atbildēja: “Tas taču Dāvids, Israēla ķēniņa Saula kalps, kurš ir pie manis jau vairāk nekā gadu, un neko es pie viņa neesmu manījis, kopš viņš atbēdzis pie manis, līdz pat šai dienai!”
4 Filistiešu augstmaņi saskaitās uz viņu un teica: “Sūti to vīru atpakaļ, lai viņš atgriežas, kur tu viņu esi norīkojis! Viņš neies ar mums kopā karā, jo kaujā viņš var kļūt mums par pretinieku. Kā gan šis lai izpatīk savam kungam, ja ne ar šo vīru galvām? 5 Vai šis nav tas pats Dāvids, par kuru viņi dejodami dzied:
Sauls kāva tūkstošus,
Dāvids – desmitiem tūkstošu!”
6 Ahīšs sauca Dāvidu un teica viņam: “Dzīvs Kungs! – tu esi taisns, man patiktu, ja tu būtu karapulkā kopā ar mani, jo es tevī neko ļaunu neesmu manījis kopš tās dienas, kad tu pie manis atnāci, līdz pat šai dienai. Tomēr tu nepatīc augstmaņiem. 7 Tad nu griezies atpakaļ un ej ar mieru, neapkaitini filistiešu augstmaņus.”
8 Dāvids teica Ahīšam: “Ko esmu izdarījis? Vai tu esi varējis vainot savu kalpu kopš tās dienas, kad es pie tevis ierados, līdz pat šai dienai, ka es nedrīkstu iet cīnīties pret sava kunga ķēniņa ienaidniekiem?” 9 Ahīšs atbildēja Dāvidam: “Zinu, tu esi krietns kā Dieva eņģelis, taču filistiešu augstmaņi saka: viņš nevar iet kopā ar mums karā! 10 Tad nu celies rīta agrumā kopā ar sava kunga kalpiem, kas nākuši tev līdzi, un agri dodieties prom – līdz ar rīta gaismu.” 11 Dāvids un viņa vīri cēlās agri, lai no rīta jau dotos prom, un atgriezās filistiešu zemē. Bet filistieši devās augšā uz Jizreēlu.
