1 Now the Philistines H6430 gathered together H6908 all their armies H4264 to Aphek: H663 and the Israelites H3478 pitched H2583 by a fountain H5869 which is in Jezreel. H3157
2 And the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 passed on H5674 by hundreds, H3967 and by thousands: H505 but David H1732 and his men H582 passed on H5674 in the rereward H314 with Achish. H397
3 Then said H559 the princes H8269 of the Philistines, H6430 What do these Hebrews H5680 here? And Achish H397 said H559 unto the princes H8269 of the Philistines, H6430 Is not this David, H1732 the servant H5650 of Saul H7586 the king H4428 of Israel, H3478 which hath been with me these days, H3117 or these years, H8141 and I have found H4672 no fault H3972 in him since H3117 he fell H5307 unto me unto this day? H3117
4 And the princes H8269 of the Philistines H6430 were wroth H7107 with him; and the princes H8269 of the Philistines H6430 said H559 unto him, Make H7725 this fellow H376 return, H7725 that he may go again H7725 to his place H4725 which thou hast appointed H6485 him, and let him not go down H3381 with us to battle, H4421 lest in the battle H4421 he be an adversary H7854 to us: for wherewith should he reconcile H7521 himself unto his master? H113 should it not be with the heads H7218 of these men? H582
5 Is not this David, H1732 of whom they sang H6030 one to another in dances, H4246 saying, H559 Saul H7586 slew H5221 his thousands, H505 and David H1732 his ten thousands? H7233
6 Then Achish H397 called H7121 David, H1732 and said H559 unto him, Surely, as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 thou hast been upright, H3477 and thy going out H3318 and thy coming in H935 with me in the host H4264 is good H2896 in my sight: H5869 for I have not found H4672 evil H7451 in thee since the day H3117 of thy coming H935 unto me unto this day: H3117 nevertheless the lords H5633 favour H2896 thee not. H5869
7 Wherefore now return, H7725 and go H3212 in peace, H7965 that thou displease H6213 H7451 H5869 not the lords H5633 of the Philistines. H6430
8 And David H1732 said H559 unto Achish, H397 But what have I done? H6213 and what hast thou found H4672 in thy servant H5650 so long as H3117 I have been with thee H6440 unto this day, H3117 that I may not go H935 fight H3898 against the enemies H341 of my lord H113 the king? H4428
9 And Achish H397 answered H6030 and said H559 to David, H1732 I know H3045 that thou art good H2896 in my sight, H5869 as an angel H4397 of God: H430 notwithstanding the princes H8269 of the Philistines H6430 have said, H559 He shall not go up H5927 with us to the battle. H4421
10 Wherefore now rise up early H7925 in the morning H1242 with thy master's H113 servants H5650 that are come H935 with thee: and as soon as ye be up early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and have light, H215 depart. H3212
11 So David H1732 and his men H582 rose up early H7925 to depart H3212 in the morning, H1242 to return H7725 into the land H776 of the Philistines. H6430 And the Philistines H6430 went up H5927 to Jezreel. H3157
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 29
Commentary on 1 Samuel 29 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 29
1Sa 29:1-5. David Marching with the Philistines to Fight with Israel.
1. Aphek—(Jos 12:8), in the tribe of Issachar, and in the plain of Esdraelon. A person who compares the Bible account of Saul's last battle with the Philistines, with the region around Gilboa, has the same sort of evidence that the account relates what is true, that a person would have that such a battle as Waterloo really took place. Gilboa, Jezreel, Shunem, En-dor, are all found, still bearing the same names. They lie within sight of each other. Aphek is the only one of the cluster not yet identified. Jezreel on the northern slope of Gilboa, and at the distance of twenty minutes to the east, is a large fountain, and a smaller one still nearer; just the position which a chieftain would select, both on account of its elevation and the supply of water needed for his troops [Hackett, Scripture Illustrated].
2. 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.
3. these days, or these years—He had now been with the Philistines a full year and four months (1Sa 27:7), and also some years before. It has been thought that David kept up a private correspondence with this Philistine prince, either on account of his native generosity, or in the anticipation that an asylum in his territories would sooner or later be needed.
4. the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him—It must be considered a happy circumstance in the overruling providence of God to rescue David out of the dangerous dilemma in which he was now placed. But David is not free from censure in his professions to Achish (1Sa 29:8), to do what he probably had not the smallest purpose of doing—of fighting with Achish against his enemies. It is just an instance of the unhappy consequences into which a false step—a departure from the straight course of duty—will betray everyone who commits it.
9. notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said—The Philistine government had constitutional checks—or at least the king was not an absolute sovereign; but his authority was limited—his proceedings liable to be controlled by "the powerful barons of that rude and early period—much as the kings of Europe in the Middle Ages were by the proud and lawless aristocracy which surrounded them" [Chalmers].