1And the Philistines gather all their armies to Aphec, and Israel encamped in Aendor, which is in Jezrael.

2And the lords of the Philistines went on ²³⁸by hundreds and thousands, and David and his men went on in the rear with Anchus.

3And the lords of the Philistines said, Who are these ²³⁹that pass by? And Anchus said to the captains of the Philistines, Is not this David the servant of Saul king of Israel? He has been with us ²⁴⁰some time, even this second year, and I have not found any fault in him from the day that he attached himself to me even until this day.

4And the captains of the Philistines were displeased at him, and they say to him, Send the man away, and let him return to his place, where you did set him; and let him not come with us to the war, and let him not be a ²⁴¹traitor in the camp: and wherewith will he be reconciled to his master? Will it not be with the heads of those men?

5Is not this David whom they ²⁴²celebrated in dances, saying, Saul has struck his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

6And Anchus called David, and said to him, As the Lord lives, you are right and approved in my eyes, and so is your going out and your coming in with me in the army, and I have not found any evil to charge against you from the day that you came to me until this day: but you are not approved in the eyes of the lords.

7Now then return and go in peace, thus you shall not do evil in the sight of the lords of the Philistines.

8And David said to Anchus, What have I done to you? and what have you found in your servant from the first day that I was before you even until this day, that I should not come ²⁴³and war against the enemies of the lord my king?

9And Anchus answered David, I know that you are good in my eyes, ²⁴⁴but the lords of the Philistines say, He shall not come with us to the war.

10Now then rise up early in the morning, you and the servants of your lord that are come with you, and go to the place where I appointed you, and entertain no evil thought in your heart, for you are good in my sight: and rise early for your journey ²⁴⁵when it is light, and depart.

11So David arose early, he and his men, to depart and guard the land of the Philistines: and the Philistines went up to Jezrael to battle.