1 Samuel 29:6

_THEN ACHISH CALLED DAVID, AND SAID UNTO HIM, SURELY, AS THE LORD LIVETH, THOU 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._ Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the Lord liveth - (cf. 1 Samuel 29:9, "as an angel of God.") Were these phrases actually used by Achish, or are they to be considered as translations from the Philistine dialect? These questions are more easily asked than answered. It has been suggested that Achish might, in speaking to David, use the former, just as many an Englishman has, in imitation of the French, interlarded his conversation with the interjection of 'mon Dieu.'...

6-11 David scarcely ever had a greater deliverance than when dismissed from such insnaring service. God's people should always behave themselves so, as, if possible, to get the good word of all they have dealings with: and it is due to those who have acted well, to speak well of them....

Verse 1 Samuel 29:6. _THOU HAST BEEN UPRIGHT_] So he thought, for as yet he had not heard of the above transaction; David having given him to understand that he had been fighting against Israel....

AS THE LORD LIVETH - The swearing by Yahweh seems strange in the mouth of a Philistine. But probably not the very words, but only the sense of this and such like speeches, is preserved....

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 ACHISH CALLED DAVID,.... Being so near him, that he could call unto him himself, or he sent some person to him, to require his presence with him: AND SAID UNTO HIM, SURELY, [AS] THE LORD LIVETH; or "Jehovah liveth"; an oath by the true God, of whom Achish might have some knowledge, as he also had of angels, from his conversation with David; though the Heathens had a notion of a supreme Being, and yet worshipped other gods, and whom they called Jove, from this name of Jehovah. Kimchi observes, that all confess a first cause; and therefore when he swore to David, he swore by him in whom David believed, perhaps out of complaisance to him, or that David might pay the greater regard to his oath: THOU HAST BEEN UPRIGHT; sincere, honest, faithful, and just in all his deportment; yet not so sincere as he thought him to be, witness the road he pretended he had taken against the south of Ju...

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....

THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah_. App-4. EVIL. Hebrew ra'a. App-44. THE LORDS FAVOUR THEE NOT. " thou art not good in the eyes of the princes". See 1 Samuel 29:1....

David dismissed from the army 6. _as the Lord liveth_ Either the exact wording of the speech is due to the historian, or Achish, to convince David of his sincerity, swears by the God of Israel. _thou hast been upright_ Better, THOU ART UPRIGHT. _thy going out_, &c. Thy company in this expedition would please me, for I have always found thee a faithful ally....