The First Book of Samuel, otherwise called the First Book of the Kings
1 Samuel 29
Chapter XXIX · Vol. II, pp. 671–673
1 David marcheth with the Philistines: their princes are offended therewith. 6 Achish dismisseth him, with commendations of his fidelity.
1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to aAphek:1 and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
A.M. 2948. B.C. 1056.
a Jos.19.18,30. 1 Ki.20.30. ch.28.4; 4.1.
1 There is one Aphek situated in Asher, near the Sidonian territory, about 8 miles from Tyre. A second was situated in Judah, 1 Sa.4.1, and supposed to be the same as Aphekah, Jos. 15. 53. The Aphek in the text was a city of Issachar in the valley of Jezreel. A fourth city of the same name was situated in Syria, 1 Ki.20.26. The word signifies a rapid stream, or strength; two meanings, either of which will fully account for the frequency of the name.—C.
2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands:2 but bDavid and his men passed on in the rere-ward with Achish.3
2 This denotes the number of the companies, each with its own captain.—I.
b ch.28.2.
3 Who was chosen general of the army.
3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews4 here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me cthese days, or these years, and I have found dno fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
4 The word thus rendered, had occurred twice in the former verse in the sense of 'passing on,' hence the Gr. Syr. and Arab. versions translate, 'Who are these passing on?'—I.
c ch.27.7.
d Da.6.4,5. Ro.12.17. Phi.2.15. Col.4.5. 1 Pe.3.15,16.
4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, eMake this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself5 unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
e 1 Ch.12.19. ch.14.21.
5 No doubt he would have fought on the side of the Hebrews.
5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, fSaul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
f ch.18.7; 21.11.
6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as gthe LORD 6liveth, hthou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.7
g ch.6.2; 20.10; 28.3.
6 How does Achish, a Philistine idolater, come thus to acknowledge the deity of Jehovah? Either because he was, to some extent, a convert to the truth, or because, like other heathens, he did not deny the deity of the gods of other people, but merely insisted on the absolute superiority or local government of his own. The total denial of deity to idols and false gods has ever been the point upon which has been founded the hatred of heathens against Judaism and Christianity.—C.
h Mat.5.16. 1 Pe.3.15. Ps.121.8. ver.9.
7 Heb. thou art not good in the eyes of the lords.
7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords8 of the Philistines.
8 Heb. do not evil in the eyes of the lords.
8 And David said unto Achish, iBut what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant, so long as I have been with thee9 unto this day, kthat I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?1
i ch.20.8; 26.18; 12.3.
9 Heb. before thee.
k Ps.34.13,14; 25.21; 119.29. 2 Sa.14.17. Col.3.9. Ep.4.25.
1 Whether David would, or would not, have fought against Saul does not appear; but as he had now, in modern phrase, renounced his allegiance, a course permitted by the laws of all nations, there was nothing but regard to his country to prevent him.—C.
9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, las an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
l 2 Sa.14.17,20; 19.27.
10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee; and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.2
A.M. 2948. B.C. 1056.
2 Thus God delivered him from the snare in which he had rashly entangled himself.—['The princes reasoned wisely according to the common practice of mankind, and it was well ordered by Providence that they refused to let David go to this battle, in which he must have been either an enemy to his country or false to his trust. Had he fought for the Philistines he would have fought against God and his country; and had he in the battle gone over to the Israelites, he would have deceived and betrayed the hospitable Achish. God therefore delivered him from such disgrace, and by the same kind Providence he was sent back to rescue his wives, and the wives and children of his people.'—Greenfield and Clarke.]
11 So David and his men rose up early to departm in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
m Ge.22.14. 1 Co.10.13. 1 Ch.12.19,20. ch.30.1,2. Ps.37.23; 46.1.
Notes
Reflections.—Unbelieving fears often plunge the people of God at last into the most perplexing circumstances. David is now upon the point of either proving a murderer of the Israelites, whom God had anointed him to save, or a traitor to the Philistines, who had so kindly protected him. But God takes more care to preserve his people's integrity and honour than they do themselves; and often gives them a decent escape from the nets in which they had sinfully entangled themselves. That which is intended for our disgrace often proves a distinguishing mercy; and it is honourable if the messengers of our disgrace are able and ready to witness for our uprightness.