1 Samuel 29:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

NIV: So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

NASB: So David got up early, he and his men, to leave in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

CSB: 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.

NLT: So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.

KJV: So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

NKJV: So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

First Samuel 29:6–11 records the Philistine king, Achish, sadly sending David home. David and his men have been under Achish's protection from Saul for over a year, and Achish has brought them to fight the Israelites with the other Philistine armies. Those other commanders, however, don't trust David, so Achish dismisses them (1 Samuel 29:1–5). When David and his men return, their city is burned, and their families are gone. Despite their fatigue, they overtake the Amalekites and rescue their wives and children (1 Samuel 30). Meanwhile, Saul and three of his sons die in battle (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 10/31/2025 7:14:16 AM