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
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].