1
And the Pelishtim gathered all their camps at Afeq, and Yisra’el encamped by the spring that is in Yizre’el.
2
And the rulers of the Pelishtim were passing by with hundreds and with thousands, and Daviyd and his men were passing at the rear with Akhish.
3
And the commanders of the Pelishtim said, “What are these Ivrim doing here?” And Akhish said to the commanders of the Pelishtim, “Is this not Daviyd, servant of Shaul king of Yisra’el, who has been with me these days, or these years? And I have found nothing in him from the day he fell away to me until this day.”
4
But the commanders of the Pelishtim became angry with him, and the commanders of the Pelishtim said to him, “Cause the ish to return, and let him return to his place where you appointed him. And let him not go down with us into the battle, lest he become an adversary to us in the battle. For with what could this one reconcile himself to his master? Would it not be with the heads of these men?
5
Is this not Daviyd, concerning whom they answered one another in dances, saying: ‘Shaul has struck his thousands, and Daviyd his ten thousands’?”
6
And Akhish called Daviyd and said to him, “As Yahuah lives, you are upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the camp is good in my eyes. For I have not found evil in you from the day you came to me until this day. But in the eyes of the rulers you are not good.
7
And now return, and go in shalom, and do not do evil in the eyes of the rulers of the Pelishtim.”
8
And Daviyd said to Akhish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day that I was before your face until this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my master the king?”
9
And Akhish answered and said to Daviyd, “I know that you are good in my eyes, like a messenger of Elohim. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Pelishtim have said, ‘He shall not go up with us into the battle.’
10
And now rise early in the morning, you and the servants of your master who came with you. And rise early in the morning, and when there is light for you, go.”
11
And Daviyd rose early, he and his men, to go in the morning, to return to the land of the Pelishtim. And the Pelishtim went up to Yizre’el.