1 Samuel 29:3

_THEN SAID THE PRINCES OF THE PHILISTINES, WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS 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 THESE DAYS, OR THESE YEARS, AND I HAVE FOUND NO FAULT IN HIM SINCE HE FELL UNTO ME UNTO THIS DAY?_ These days, or these years. He had now been a full year and four months (1 Samuel 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....

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 29:3. _THESE DAYS, OR THESE YEARS_] I suppose these words to mark no _definite time_, and may be understood thus: "Is not this David, who has been with me for a considerable time?...

HE FELL UNTO ME - The regular word for deserting and going over to the other side. See Jeremiah 37:13; Jeremiah 38:19....

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

THEN SAID THE PRINCES OF THE PHILISTINES,.... To Achish; not those of the court of Achish, who were his subjects, but the confederate princes with him in this war, the lords of the other principalities, as appears by the freedom they took with him, 1 Samuel 29:4; WHAT [DO] THESE HEBREWS [HERE]? or Jews, as the Targum; what hast thou to do with them, or they to be with thee? men of another nation and religion, and known enemies to the Philistines: AND ACHISH SAID UNTO THE PRINCES OF THE PHILISTINES; in order to soften them, and reconcile them to these men, and their being with him: [IS] NOT THIS DAVID THE SERVANT OF SAUL THE KING OF ISRAEL; between whom there had been a quarrel, and the former had fled from the latter to him: WHICH HATH BEEN WITH ME THESE DAYS, OR THESE YEARS; had been with him many days, and he m

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....

FELL. fell away; or, departed. UNTO ME. These words are in the text of Septuagint and Vulgate....

_princes_ The Hebrew equivalent for the special title _Seren_rendered _lord_. _Hebrews_ See on 1 Samuel 4:6. _these days, or these years_ Lit. "now days (a year) or now years," i.e. for a considerable time, sufficient to test his fidelity. Cp. 1 Samuel 27:7. _since he fell unto me_ i.e. deserted and came over to me. Cp. 1 Chronicles 12:19-20....