1 Samuel Chapter 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 the LORD 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 favour 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.
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1 Samuel Chapter 29 Guide
David's sojourn with Achish resulted in his being compelled to join the Philistine army in its preparations to attack Israel.
It is perfectly natural that the Philistine lords protested against this arrangement. They were familiar with the song which had celebrated David's victories over them, and dared not trust him among them in the day of battle.
Achish seems to have formed high estimate of him, and a strong affection for him, but was compelled to yield to his lords in this matter. Therefore David was dismissed from the Philistine army.
It is perhaps idle to speculate what the result would have been had he remained. In all probability in the crisis he would have turned on those with whom he had fought.
This, however, was not God's purpose, and in the attitude and action of the Philistine lords we have another instance of the overruling of God in the affairs of men. Through it David was delivered from an entanglement into which he had brought himself in his excess of fear.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
1 Samuel Chapter 29 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- David objected to by the Philistines. -- (1-5)
- He is dismissed by Achish. -- (6-11)
Verses 1-5
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.
Verses 6-11
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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.