Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag
1The Philistines gathered their whole army together at Aphek. Israel’s army camped by the spring of water at Jezreel. 2The Philistine rulers marched out in groups of hundreds and thousands. David and his men were marching with Achish behind the others. 3The commanders of the Philistines asked, “Why are these Hebrews here?”
Achish replied, “That’s David, isn’t it? Wasn’t he an officer of Saul, the king of Israel? He has already been with me for more than a year. I haven’t found any fault in him. That’s been true from the day he left Saul until now.”
4But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They said, “Send David back. Let him return to the town you gave him. He must not go with us into battle. If he does, he’ll turn against us during the fighting. In fact, he might even cut off the heads of our own men. What better way could he choose to win back his master’s favor? 5Isn’t David the one the Israelites sang about when they danced? They sang,
“ ‘Saul has killed thousands of men.
David has killed tens of thousands.’ ”
6So Achish called David over to him. He said, “You have been faithful to me. And that’s just as sure as the Lord is alive. I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. I haven’t found any fault in you. That’s been true from the day you came to me until today. But the Philistine rulers aren’t pleased to have you come along. 7So now go back home in peace. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t please the Philistine rulers.”
8“But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against me from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against your enemies? After all, you are my king and master.”
9Achish answered, “You have been as pleasing to me as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘We don’t want David to go up with us into battle.’ 10So get up early in the morning. Take with you the men who used to serve Saul. Leave as soon as the sun begins to come up.”
11So David and his men got up early in the morning. They went back to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Akishi Amrudisha Daudi Huko Siklagi
129:1 1Sam 28:1; 4:1; Yos 17:16; 1Fal 18:45; 21:1; 2Fal 9:30; Yer 50:5; Hos 1:4; 5:11; 2:22; Yos 12:18Wafilisti wakakusanya majeshi yao yote huko Afeki, nao Waisraeli wakapiga kambi karibu na chemchemi iliyoko Yezreeli. 229:2 1Sam 28:2Watawala wa Wafilisti walipokuwa wakipita pamoja na vikosi vyao vya mamia na vya maelfu, Daudi na watu wake walikuwa wakitembea huko nyuma pamoja na Akishi. 329:3 1Nya 12:19; 1Sam 27:7; Dan 6:5; Yn 19:6; 1Pet 3:16Majemadari wa Wafilisti wakauliza, “Vipi kuhusu hawa Waebrania?”
Akishi akajibu, “Huyu si Daudi, aliyekuwa afisa wa Sauli mfalme wa Israeli? Ameshakuwa pamoja nami kwa zaidi ya mwaka, naye tangu alipomwacha Sauli hadi sasa, sikuona kosa lolote kwake.”
429:4 1Nya 12:19; 1Sam 14:21Lakini majemadari wa Wafilisti wakamkasirikia na kusema, “Mrudishe mtu huyu, apate kurudi mahali pale ulipompangia. Haimpasi kufuatana pamoja nasi vitani, asije akageuka, akawa kinyume chetu vitani. Ni kwa njia ipi bora zaidi angeweza kujipatia tena kibali kwa bwana wake, isipokuwa kwa vichwa vya watu wetu wenyewe? 529:5 1Sam 18:7; 21:11Je, huyu si ndiye Daudi walioimba kumhusu katika ngoma zao, wakisema:
“ ‘Sauli amewaua elfu zake,
naye Daudi makumi elfu yake’?”
629:6 1Sam 27:8-12; Hes 27:17; 2Sam 3:25; 2Fal 19:27; Za 121:8; Isa 37:28Basi Akishi akamwita Daudi na kumwambia, “Kama vile Bwana aishivyo, wewe umekuwa mtu mwaminifu, nami ningependa utumike pamoja nami katika jeshi. Tangu siku ile uliyofika kwangu hadi sasa, sijaona kosa lolote kwako, lakini hao watawala hawakukubali. 7Rudi na uende kwa amani; usifanye chochote cha kuwakasirisha watawala wa Kifilisti.”
8Daudi akamuuliza Akishi, “Lakini mimi nimefanya nini? Je, umeona nini kibaya juu ya mtumishi wako tangu siku ile niliyokuja kwako hadi leo? Kwa nini nisirudi na kupigana na adui za bwana wangu mfalme?”
929:9 2Sam 14:17, 20; 19:27Akishi akamjibu Daudi, “Mimi ninajua ya kuwa wewe umekuwa wa kupendeza machoni pangu kama vile malaika wa Mungu. Lakini hao majemadari wa Wafilisti wamesema, ‘Huyu haimpasi kwenda vitani pamoja nasi.’ 1029:10 1Nya 12:19Sasa amka mapema, pamoja na watumishi wa bwana wako waliofuatana nawe, nanyi ondokeni asubuhi mara kutakapopambazuka.”
1129:11 Za 37:23; 73:2; Mit 16:9; 20:24; Isa 30:21; Yer 10:23; 1Kor 10:23; 10:13; 2Sam 4:4Hivyo Daudi na watu wake wakaamka asubuhi na mapema, wakaenda zao kurudi katika nchi ya Wafilisti, nao Wafilisti wakapanda kwenda Yezreeli.
