1 Samuel 29:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel.

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

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

CSB: The Philistines brought all their military units together at Aphek while Israel was camped by the spring in Jezreel.

NLT: The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel.

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

NKJV: Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

First Samuel 29:1–5 contains another example of God protecting David from having to fight his future army. Achish has allowed David, his men, and their families to settle in Ziklag for over a year (1 Samuel 27). Achish wants David's group to fight with him against the Israelites, but the other Philistine commanders wisely disagree. Achish will send David's group home (1 Samuel 29:6–11) where they find the Amalekites have kidnapped their wives and kids and burned their city (1 Samuel 30). While David is marching, the Philistines kill Saul's sons, and Saul kills himself (1 Samuel 31).

David, his men, and their families have been hiding from King Saul under the protection of Achish, Philistine king of Gath (1 Samuel 27:1–2). Achish so thoroughly trusts that David has rejected the Israelites that he plans to take David and his men into battle with him against the Israelites. The Philistine commanders reject this idea and tell Achish to send David back home. David protests, but Achish has no choice but to order David to return to the land of the Philistines to sit out the battle against Israel.

The Philistines are renewing their war against the Israelites (1 Samuel 28:1). Achish, king of Gath, insists that David and his men fight with him in the battle against Israel. The Philistine commanders wisely reject the idea of allowing these Israelites among their ranks in battle, no matter how much Achish trusts David. David protests, and Achish expresses his regret, but the king sends David and his men back home. They will arrive to find their families captured and their city burnt (1 Samuel 30:1).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 11/9/2025 3:20:36 AM