1 Samuel 29:2

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 Serentranslated "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, wardand guardbeing related as wiseand guise, Cp. Isaiah 52:12.