And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.

And the lords of the Philistines marched with their hundreds and their thousands: but David and his men were in the rear with Achis.

and the princes of the Philistines are passing on by hundreds, and by thousands, and David and his men are passing on in the rear with Achish.

And indeed, the princes of the Philistines advanced by hundreds and by thousands; but David and his men were in the rear with Achish.

The lords - See Judges 3:3 note, as distinguished from ordinary "princes" 1-Samuel 29:3. The military divisions of the Philistine army were by hundreds and by thousands, like those of the Israelites 1-Samuel 8:12. David and his men formed a body-guard to Achish 1-Samuel 28:2.

By hundreds, and by thousands - They were probably divided, as the Jewish armies, by fifties, hundreds, and thousands; each having its proper officer or captain.

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by (a) hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
(a) According to their bands, or ensigns.

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands,.... Not that there were so many lords, for there were but five of them; but these marched, some at the head of hundreds with them, and others at the head of thousands:
but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish; who being the generalissimo brought up the rear, and David, whom he had appointed captain of his bodyguards, attended him with his men, which in point of gratitude he could not refuse; and yet was in the greatest strait and difficulty how to act, it being both against his conscience and his interest to fight against Israel, and was waiting and hoping for some appearance of Providence to deliver him out of this dilemma, and which was quickly seen; but Abarbinel thinks David had no other notion in going to the battle, but of being the bodyguard of Achish, and accompanying him, and that he should not fight against Israel, nor for the Philistines: neither harm the one, nor help the other.

David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish--as the commander of the lifeguards of Achish, who was general of this invading army of the Philistines.

With Achish - As the life - guard of Achish. Achish being, as it seems, the general of the army.