1 Samuel 29:5
3 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.”
4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?
Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
6 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.
7 Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”
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
- Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
- KJV
- Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
- WEB
- Isn’t this David, of whom people sang to one another in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
- ASV
- Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?
- DARBY
- Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul smote his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
- BLB
- Is not this David, whom they sang of him in the dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his myriads’?”
- ÅB
- Er det ikke den samme David som de sang slik om under dansen: Saul har slått sine tusener, men David sine titusener?
- OTB
- Er ikke dette David, som de synger om i dansene, og sier,
‘Saul har slått sine tusener,
Og David sine titusener’?” - B1930
- Er det ikke den samme David som de sang således om under dansen: Saul har slått sine tusener, men David sine titusener?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Samuel 21:11
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
Read in context1 Samuel 18:6–7
As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.
Read in contextProverbs 27:14
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
Read in context