1 Samuel 29:3

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

2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”
KJV
Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
WEB
Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Isn’t this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years? I have found no fault in him since he fell away until today.”
ASV
Then said the princes of the Philistines, What [do] these Hebrews [here]? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who hath been with me these days, or [rather] these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away [unto me] unto this day?
DARBY
And the princes of the Philistines said, What are these Hebrews? And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years, and I have found nothing in him since the day of his falling away [to me] to this day?
BLB
And the princes of the Philistines said, “What [are] these Hebrews?” And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, even these years? And I have not found in him anything from the day of his falling up to this day.”
ÅB
Da sa filistrenes høvdinger: Hva skal disse hebreere her? Akis svarte: Det er jo David, en av Sauls, Israels konges, tjenere, som nå har vært hos meg et år eller mere, og jeg har ikke funnet noe ondt hos ham fra den dag han gikk over til meg, og til denne dag.
OTB
Da sa filisternes høvdinger, «Hva gjør disse hebreerne her?» Og Akisj sa til filisternes høvdinger, «Er ikke dette David, tjeneren til Saul, Israels konge, som har vært hos meg nå i dager og år, og jeg har ikke funnet noe feil hos ham fra den dagen han gikk over til meg til denne dag?»
B1930
Da sa filistrenes høvdinger: Hvad skal disse hebreere her? Akis svarte: Det er jo David, en av Sauls, Israels konges, tjenere, som nu har vært hos mig et år eller mere, og jeg har ikke funnet noget ondt hos ham fra den dag han gikk over til mig, og til denne dag.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 27:7

    And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 6:5

    Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 25:28

    I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

    Read in context
  • John 19:6

    When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 3:16

    Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

    Read in context
  • Romans 12:17

    Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

    Read in context