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
And the servants H5650 of Achish H397 said H559 unto him, Is not this David H1732 the king H4428 of the land? H776 did they not sing H6030 one to another of him H2088 in dances, H4246 saying, H559 Saul H7586 hath slain H5221 his thousands, H505 and David H1732 his ten thousands? H7233
And it came to pass as they came, H935 when David H1732 was returned H7725 from the slaughter H5221 of the Philistine, H6430 that the women H802 came out H3318 of all cities H5892 of Israel, H3478 singing H7891 and dancing, H4246 to meet H7125 king H4428 Saul, H7586 with tabrets, H8596 with joy, H8057 and with instruments H7991 of musick. And the women H802 answered H6030 one another as they played, H7832 and said, H559 Saul H7586 hath slain H5221 his thousands, H505 and David H1732 his ten thousands. H7233
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].