1 Samuel29
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel.
2The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.
3Then 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.”
4But 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?
5Isn’t this David, of whom people sang to one another in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
6Then 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.
7Therefore now return, and go in peace, that you not displease the lords of the Philistines.”
8David 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?”
9Achish 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.’
10Therefore 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.”
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