A reading from 1 Samuel.

Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Afeck, and the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jesrael.

As the Lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Aikish, the commanders of the Philistines said,

What are these Hebrews doing here? And Aikish said to the commanders of the Philistines said, What are these Hebrews doing here?

And Akish said to the commanders of the Philistines,

Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and

years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the

Philistines said to him, send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned

him. He shall not go down with us to battle, less than the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could

this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? Is not this David of whom

they sing to one another and dances? Saul has struck down his thousands and David his 10,000s?

Then Akish called David and said to him, As the Lord lives, you have been honest. And to me it seems

right that you should march out and end with me in the campaign, for I have

found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the

lords do not approve of you. So go back now and go peaceably, that you may not displease the

lords of the Philistines. And David said to Akish, but what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now that I may

not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

An Akish answered David and said, I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel

of God.

Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your Lord who came with you,

...