1 Samuel 27:1-7. David's flight to Achish, and residence at Ziklag 1. _into the land of the Philistines_ The result anticipated in 1 Samuel 26:19 has come to pass. David is forced to seek refuge in a heathen land. The circumstances of this flight are entirely different from those related in 1 Samue... [ Continue Reading ]
_Achish, the son of Maoch_ If he was the same as the Achish of 1 Samuel 21:10, and the Achish son of Maachah of 1 Kings 2:39, he must have reigned some fifty years. But more probably the same name was borne by different individuals.... [ Continue Reading ]
_every man with his household_ Cp. ch. 1Sa 30:3 ff.; 2 Samuel 2:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in some town in the country_ In one of the provincial cities as distinguished from the metropolis Gath. _why should thy servant dwell_, &c. He wished for a more independent position, where he might be less exposed to the jealousy of the Philistine lords, and have free opportunity for ruling and or... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ziklag_ One of the cities In the _Negeb_or "South Country," originally assigned to Judah (Joshua 15:31), but transferred to Simeon (Joshua 19:5), and either never occupied by them or reconquered by the Philistines. Its site has not been identified, but was probably somewhere W. or N. W. of Beersheb... [ Continue Reading ]
_a full year and four months_ The Sept. reading "four months" is improbable, though the Heb. might be rendered "a space of time, even four months." Ch. 1 Samuel 29:3 implies a much longer residence. "In this city David laid the foundation of his kingdom. Here he could already rule with greater freed... [ Continue Reading ]
David's raids upon neighbouring tribes 8. _the Geshurites_ A tribe dwelling south of Philistia near the Amalekites (see Joshua 13:2), to be distinguished from the Geshurites in Syria (2 Samuel 15:8). _the Gezrites_ These cannot be the inhabitants of _Gezer_(Joshua 10:33), which was far away from th... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sheep_, &c. In which the wealth of nomad tribes consists. Cp. 1 Samuel 15:3, &c.; Job 1:3. "We rode through five large Arab camps, and every hill-side and valley was filled with thousands of sheep, goats, oxen, asses, and camels." Tristram, _Land of Israel_, p. 532. _returned and came to Achis... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whither_ The Heb. word does not mean _whither_, and must be emended. It is best to follow the Sept. and Vulg. in reading "against whom." _have ye made a road_ The same word as that translated "invaded" in 1 Samuel 27:8. "Road" means a plundering excursion or raid, from A.-S. _râd_, a riding. Compa... [ Continue Reading ]
_And David said_, &c. The tribes which David really plundered must evidently have lived in the neighbourhood of the southern boundary of Judah, so that he could represent his expeditions as made against his own countrymen and their allies, not, as was the fact, against allies of the Philistines. Dav... [ Continue Reading ]
_Achish believed David_ Connect 1 Samuel 27:12 with 1 Samuel 27:10. Achish believed that David had brought himself into ill odour (see on 1 Samuel 13:4) with his own countrymen by his attacks on them, and would now be his permanent vassal.... [ Continue Reading ]