INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 29 This chapter gives an account of David's going forth with the armies of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 29:1; of his being objected to by the princes of the Philistines, who insisted upon his being sent back, 1 Samuel 29:3; of the report Achish made of it to David, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE PHILISTINES GATHERED TOGETHER ALL THEIR ARMIES TO APHEK,.... Not the city in the tribe of Judah of that name, Joshua 15:53; where the Philistines had a camp in the time of Samuel, 1 Samuel 4:1; but rather that in the tribe of Asher, Joshua 19:30; unless there was one of this name in the trib... [ Continue Reading ]
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 ACHI... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PRINCES OF THE PHILISTINES WERE WROTH WITH HIM,.... With Achish, for giving such a character of David, and taking his part, in order to detain him, if possible: AND THE PRINCES OF THE PHILISTINES SAID UNTO HIM, MAKE THIS FELLOW RETURN; they speak of him with contempt, and insist on it that... [ Continue Reading ]
[IS] NOT THIS DAVID, OF WHOM THEY SANG ONE TO ANOTHER IN DANCES,.... Long ago: SAYING, SAUL SLEW HIS THOUSANDS, AND DAVID HIS TEN THOUSANDS; so that he is an old sworn enemy of ours; and the more valiant and victorious he has been, the less is he to be trusted, see 1 Samuel 18:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE NOW RETURN,.... To Ziklag: AND GO IN PEACE; not only in a peaceable manner, easy and satisfied, as David was at his very heart to hear this, but all prosperity and happiness attend thee; the Jews n distinguish between wishing persons to go in peace, and to go to peace; the former they obs... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SAID UNTO ACHISH, WHAT HAVE I DONE?.... This question is anticipated by the speech of Achish, who had declared he had found no evil in him; but David must say something to put on an appearance of concern for being dismissed, when he was heartily glad of it: AND WHAT HAST THOU FOUND IN THY... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ACHISH ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO DAVID,.... In reply to the questions: I KNOW THAT THOU [ART] GOOD IN MY SIGHT AS AN ANGEL OF GOD: for his great wisdom, and graceful behaviour, and inoffensive carriage: NOTWITHSTANDING THE PRINCES OF THE PHILISTINES HAVE SAID, HE SHALL NOT GO UP WITH US TO THE BA... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE NOW RISE UP EARLY WITH THY MASTER'S SERVANTS THAT ARE COME WITH THEE,.... Meaning his six hundred men, who were considered as the servants and subjects of Saul, though with David: and which tacitly carried in it the objection of the Philistine lords unto them, that since they were the serv... [ Continue Reading ]
SO DAVID AND HIS MEN ROSE UP EARLY TO DEPART IN THE MORNING,.... Being as willing and ready to go as the Philistines were desirous they should: TO RETURN INTO THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES; for now they were in the land of Israel, at Aphek, near Jezreel, from whence they went back to Ziklag, which wa... [ Continue Reading ]