1 Samuel 29:2 net — When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David…

NET Bible

"When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish."

— 1 Samuel 29:2, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 29:2 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 29 — Context

1

David Is Rejected by the Philistine Leaders The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel.

2

When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.

3

The leaders of the Philistines asked,“What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines,“Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time? I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!”

4

But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said to him,“Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don’t let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men?

5

Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced,‘Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands’?”

1 Samuel 29:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 29:2 say?
1 Samuel 29:2 in the NET Bible reads: “When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.”
Where is 1 Samuel 29:2 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 29:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 29, verse 2.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 29:2.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 29:2 in?
1 Samuel 29:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 29:2?
1 Samuel 29:2 reads (NET): “When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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