Single lesson
The Philistines Send David Away
1 Samuel 29:1–11
In this lesson, children will follow the moment when David and his men were sent away from the Philistine army. They will sequence the account, notice each person’s choice, and observe what the passage clearly says about people’s decisions.
Before you teach
The passage opens with the Philistine armies gathered at Aphek and the Israelites camped by the spring in Jezreel. David and his men are travelling at the rear with Achish. The Philistine rulers question David’s presence, recall his reputation, and insist he must not go to battle with them. Achish then tells David to leave early the next morning.
Students will be able to retell the order of 1 Samuel 29:1–11, identify the choices and outcomes in the passage, and explain that these verses mainly show how people judged the situation and acted.
Welcome: Who is where in this passage?
5 minShow children the reference and explain that this Bible account begins with armies gathering and leaders making decisions. Ask them to listen for where the Philistines are, where Israel is, and where David is. Point out that David and his men are in the rear with Achish, which sets the scene for the problem that follows.
1 Samuel 29:1, 1 Samuel 29:2
Read and explain: The Philistine rulers object
7 minRead verses 1 to 5 aloud. Explain that the “lords” or “princes” of the Philistines are their rulers. They ask, “What about these Hebrews?” and do not want David with them in battle. They fear he could become their adversary and they remember the song about Saul’s thousands and David’s ten thousands.
1 Samuel 29:3, 1 Samuel 29:4, 1 Samuel 29:5
Discuss: Achish’s view and the rulers’ decision
6 minRead verses 6 to 9. Achish says he has found no fault in David and speaks warmly about him, yet he still sends him back because the Philistine rulers do not favour him. Help children notice that the passage clearly shows people making judgments, speaking, and deciding what will happen next.
1 Samuel 29:6, 1 Samuel 29:7, 1 Samuel 29:8, 1 Samuel 29:9
Make and respond: Sequence the account
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards with key moments from the passage: armies gather, rulers object, Achish speaks, David asks, David leaves. As they place the cards in order, ask them to match each moment to a verse. Then ask which choices belong to the rulers, to Achish, and to David.
1 Samuel 29:1, 1 Samuel 29:4, 1 Samuel 29:6, 1 Samuel 29:8, 1 Samuel 29:11
Closing: The morning departure
4 minFinish by reading verses 10 and 11. Point out that David and his men rose early and departed, while the Philistines went up to Jezreel. Review the outcome: David did not go into that battle. Invite the class to retell the account in five short steps and name one decision that shaped the ending.
1 Samuel 29:10, 1 Samuel 29:11
Questions to explore
Why did the Philistine rulers not want David to go with them into battle?
Look for their own explanation in the passage: they feared he might become their adversary in the battle, and they remembered the song about David’s victories.
1 Samuel 29:4, 1 Samuel 29:5
What did Achish think about David, and what did he still tell him to do?
Find both parts of Achish’s words: he says David has been upright and that he found no evil in him, yet he tells David to return because the rulers do not favour him.
1 Samuel 29:6, 1 Samuel 29:7, 1 Samuel 29:9
What happened the next morning, and how does that end the account?
Read the final verses carefully to see who left, when they left, and where the Philistines went.
1 Samuel 29:10, 1 Samuel 29:11
Make, think or respond
Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or crayons
- Bible
- Scissors
- Five small containers or spaces on a table
Try it together
- Write or draw five moments from the passage: armies gather, rulers object, Achish speaks well of David, David asks his question, David leaves in the morning.
- Mix up the cards and let children work in pairs to place them in the right order.
- Read the relevant verses again and check each card against the text.
- Invite each pair to explain one card and say which choice or outcome it shows.
This activity helps children see the order of 1 Samuel 29:1–11 and connect each moment to the decisions and results named in the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the five card titles in advance and let them add simple drawings instead of writing full phrases.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add the exact verse reference to each sequence card and explain why that moment matters in the account.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “Dear God, thank you for your word. Please help us understand this passage clearly, remember what happened, and pay careful attention to the choices people made. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Samuel 29
1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel.
2 The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.
3 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.”
4 But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; and the princes of the Philistines said to him, “Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where you have appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For with what should this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Should it not be with the heads of these men?
5 Isn’t this David, of whom people sang to one another in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As Yahweh lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords don’t favor you.
7 Therefore now return, and go in peace, that you not displease the lords of the Philistines.”
8 David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
9 Achish answered David, “I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God. Notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’
10 Therefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you; and as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.”
11 So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines; and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.