1 Samuel 28:2

_AND DAVID SAID TO ACHISH, SURELY THOU SHALT KNOW WHAT THY SERVANT CAN DO. AND ACHISH SAID TO DAVID, THEREFORE WILL I MAKE THEE KEEPER OF MINE HEAD FOR EVER._ Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. This answer, while it seemed to express an apparent cheerfulness in agreeing to the proposal, contained a studied ambiguity, a wary and politic generality. THEREFORE WILL I MAKE THEE KEEPER OF MINE HEAD - or my life; i:e., captain of my body-guard-an office of great trust and high honour....

1-6 David could not refuse Achish without danger. If he promised assistance, and then stood neuter, or went over to the Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude and treachery. If he fought against Israel, he would sin greatly. It seemed impossible that he should get out of this difficulty with a clear conscience; but his evasive answer, intended to gain time, was not consistent with the character of an Israelite indeed. Troubles are terrors to the children of disobedience. In his distress, Saul inquired of the Lord. He did not seek in faith, but with a double, unstable mind. Saul had put the law in force against those that had familiar spirits, Exodus 22:18. Many seem zealous against, sin, when they are any way hurt by it, who have no concern for the glory of God, nor any dislike of sin as sin. Many seem enemies to sin in others, while they indulge it in themselves. Saul will drive...

Verse 1 Samuel 28:2. _SURELY THOU SHALT KNOW WHAT THY SERVANT CAN DO_] This was another equivocal answer; and could only be understood by his succeeding conduct. It might imply what he _could do_ in _favour_ of the _Philistines_ against Israel; or in favour of _Israel_ against the Philistines. Achish understood it in the former sense; and therefore he said to David, _I will make thee keeper of my head for_ _ever_; i.e., Thou shalt be captain of my _life-guards_....

THOU SHALT KNOW ... - David dissembled (compare also 1 Samuel 29:8), hoping, no doubt, that something would happen to prevent his fighting against his king and country. KEEPER OF MINE HEAD - Captain of his bodyguard....

DOWNFALL AND DEATH OF SAUL (CHS. 28-31.) THE PHILISTINES GATHER TOGETHER FOR WAR. DISTRESS OF SAUL, AND VISIT TO THE WITCH OF ENDOR (1 Samuel 28:1.). EXPOSITION ACHISH SUMMONS DAVID TO JOIN HIM IN THE WAR AGAINST ISRAEL (1 Samuel

AND DAVID SAID TO ACHISH, SURELY THOU SHALT KNOW WHAT THY SERVANT CAN DO,.... By which he would have Achish understand, and so he did, that he would exert himself in favour of the Philistines, and against Israel, and do great and brave things, of which Achish would be, made sensible, through his heroic courage and valour; though he meant rather what he could and should do for Israel against the Philistines, if he had an opportunity: but it seems best of all to consider David as quite undetermined, and at a loss what to do, hoping that God in his providence would extricate him out of this difficulty, and direct him what he should do, which then Achish would know; and accordingly he was delivered out of it: AND ACHISH SAID TO DAVID: putting confidence in him on account of his answer, and believing he was hearty in engaging in the war with the Philistines against Israel: THEREFORE WILL I...

7. SAUL AND THE WITCH AT ENDOR CHAPTER 28 _ 1. David fully joined to Achish (1 Samuel 28:1)_ 2. Forsaken Saul (1 Samuel 28:3) 3. The command to seek a witch (1 Samuel 28:7) 4. Saul's visit to Endor (1 Samuel 28:8) 5. Samuel's solemn message (1 Samuel 28:15) 6. Saul's despair and departure (1 Samuel 28:21) Saul's final plunge towards his awful end is the main topic of this chapter. Israel had ad

1 SAMUEL 28:2 is continued by 1 Samuel 29:1; the _connexion is_ broken by the insertion of 1 SAMUEL 28:3. SAUL AND THE WITCH OF ENDOR. This section interrupts the connexion; moreover, it would come naturally immediately before the battle of Gilboa. Saul is at Gilboa (p. 29) in 284. Opinions are divided; some hold that this section is from another source (E) than the bulk of 1 Samuel 25-31, and some that it is from the same source (J), that originally it stood in that document immediately before ch. 31, and that it has got into the wrong place, because it was omitted from an edition of _Samuel,_ and reinserted in a later edition (see p. 273)....

SURELY. Therefore; which Achish repeats in his reply. KEEPER OF MINE HEAD: i.e. captain of my body-guard....

_Surely thou shalt know_ Better, THEREFORE NOW SHALT THOU KNOW: reading _now_for _thou_with the Sept. and Vulg. David's answer is designedly ambiguous. He is placed in a perplexing dilemma. It seems as though he must either fight against his own nation, or appear false to his liege lord Achish. The difficulty was providentially solved by the suspicion of the Philistine princes (1 Samuel 29:3 ff.). _keeper of mine head_ Captain of his body-guard. Achish accepts David's answer as a profession of loyalty....