1 Samuel 29:2

_AND THE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES PASSED ON BY HUNDREDS, AND BY THOUSANDS: BUT DAVID AND HIS MEN PASSED ON IN THE REREWARD WITH ACHISH._ David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish - as the commander of the life-guards of Achish, who was general of this invading army of the Philistines....

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....

Verse 1 Samuel 29:2. _BY HUNDREDS, AND BY THOUSANDS_] They were probably divided, as the Jewish armies, by _fifties, hundreds_, and _thousands_; each having its proper officer or captain....

THE LORDS - See Judges 3:3 note, as distinguished from ordinary “princes” 1 Samuel 29:3. The military divisions of the Philistine army were by hundreds and by thousands, like those of the Israelites 1 Samuel 8:12. David and his men formed a body-guard to Achish 1 Samuel 28:2....

DAVID'S DISMISSAL FROM THE PHILISTINE CAMP (1 Samuel 29:1.). EXPOSITION MARCH OF THE PHILISTINE ARMY (1 Samuel 29:1). 1 SAMUEL 29:1 THE PHILISTINES GATHERED, etc. The narrative, broken off for the description of Saul's abasement, is again resumed from 1 Samuel 28:1. APHEK. As we saw on 1 Sa

AND THE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES PASSED ON BY HUNDREDS, AND BY THOUSANDS,.... Not that there were so many lords, for there were but five of them; but these marched, some at the head of hundreds with them, and others at the head of thousands: BUT DAVID AND HIS MEN PASSED ON IN THE REREWARD WITH ACHISH; who being the generalissimo brought up the rear, and David, whom he had appointed captain of his bodyguards, attended him with his men, which in point of gratitude he could not refuse; and yet was in the greatest strait and difficulty how to act, it being both against his conscience and his interest to fight against Israel, and was waiting and hoping for some appearance of Providence to deliver him out of this dilemma, and which was quickly seen; but Abarbinel thinks David had no other notion in going to the battle, but of being the bodyguard of Achish, and accompanying him, and that he sh...

8. DAVID AND ACHISH AND ZIKLAG DESTROYED AND AVENGED CHAPTER 29 _ 1. The objections of the Philistine lords (1 Samuel 29:1)_ 2. Achish dismisses David (1 Samuel 29:6) While David's enemy, Saul, heard his coming doom, David was still with the enemies of God's people. The Philistines were gathered against Israel and David was with Achish ready to fight against the Lord's people. The lords of the Philistines however object to his presence. They still remember the song of bygone days and fear treachery. Then follows the description of how Achish and David parted. David's words expressing his great willingness to stay with the enemies of God show how deep a believer may fall when he has wandered away from God. He calls wicked Achish “my lord the King” and his own people Israel,

1 SAMUEL 29-31., 2 SAMUEL 1:1 (J). SUBSTANTIALLY THESE SECTIONS ARE A CONTINUOUS NARRATIVE FROM THE SAME DOCUMENT. XXIX. David is Dismissed from the Philistine Army. Continues 1 Samuel 28:1 ff. As the Philistines are mustering for the battle, Achish reluctantly dismisses David at the instance of the princes, and bids him withdraw next morning, adding (so Driver and others, with LXX), And go ye to the place [Ziklag] which I have appointed for you, and do not harbour evil thoughts in thy heart, for thou hast my full confidence and favour, lit. Do not put a pestilent word in thy heart, for thou art good before me. Probably the original Heb. for pestilent word was word of Belial....

LORDS. princes; verses: 1 Samuel 29:3, &c. See note on Joshua 13:3. MEN. Hebrew. _'enosh._ App-14....

_And the lords_, &c. Render, NOW THE LORDS … WERE PASSING ON. The narrative now goes back to a point of time during the march of the Philistine army northwards, probably soon after the junction of the confederate forces from the different cities of the league. It must have been after they had passed the Philistine frontier, as David "returned into the land of the Philistines" (1 Samuel 29:11), but soon after, as he reached Ziklag on the third day (1 Samuel 30:1). _the lords_ For the special title _Seren_translated "lord" see on ch. 1 Samuel 5:8. They were marching at the head of "the hundreds and the thousands" which were the military divisions of the army. _the rereward_ The rear-guard,