1 Samuel29
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel.
2And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.
3Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who hath been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away unto me unto this day?
4But the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us: for wherewith should this fellow reconcile himself unto his lord? should it not be with the heads of these men?
5Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?
6Then Achish called David, and said unto him, As Jehovah liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favor thee not.
7Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been before thee unto this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
9And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art 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.
10Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of thy lord that are come with thee; and as soon as ye are up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
11So 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 29.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David objected to by the Philistines. (1–5). He is dismissed by Achish. (6–11).
vv1-5
David waited with a secret hope that the Lord would help him out of his difficulty. But he seems to have been influenced too much by the fear of man, in consenting to attend Achish. It is hard to come near to the brink of sin, and not to fall in. God inclined the princes of the Philistines to oppose David's being employed in the battle. Thus their dislike befriended him, when no friend could do him such a kindness.
vv6-11
David scarcely ever had a greater deliverance than when dismissed from such insnaring service. God's people should always behave themselves so, as, if possible, to get the good word of all they have dealings with: and it is due to those who have acted well, to speak well of them.
Key Words
פְּלִשְׁתִּי: a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
קָבַץ: to grasp, i.e. collect
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַחֲנֶה: an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sacred courts)
אֲפֵק: Aphek (or Aphik), the name of three places in Palestine
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
חָנָה: properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege)
עַיִן: an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
יִזְרְעֵאל: Jizreel, the name of two places in Palestine and of two Israelites
Cross References
1 Samuel 29The exact song of David's superior triumphs cited by the suspicious Philistine princes.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides immediate context of the Philistines gathering to war against Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Establishes the timeline ('these years' or 'days') of David's stay in Philistine territory.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicitly describes how Manassites fell to David as he returned from the Philistine army.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David's promise to Achish to serve in his rearward guard, leading to this predicament.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Earlier instance where Achish's servants recognized David by this same song.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows God's providence in dismissing David just in time to salvage Ziklag.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical precedent of Hebrew mercenaries turning against Philistines mid-battle to reconcile with Saul.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes the proverbial comparison of David to 'an angel of God' in wisdom and integrity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Geographical parallel tracing the Philistines' march toward Shunem and Jezreel.
Supported by JFB
Parallel wording of David defending his loyalty against suspected treachery.
Supported by Matthew Poole