About 1 Samuel

1 Samuel records the transition from judges to monarchy, including Samuel's ministry, Saul's rise and fall, and David's anointing.

Author: Samuel, Nathan, GadWritten: c. 1050-900 BCReading time: ~1 minVerses: 11
TransitionKingshipObedienceRejectionGod's SovereigntyHeart

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Aphek 2(Settlement)Jezreel 2(Settlement)

King James Version

1 Samuel 29

11 verses with commentary

The Philistines Reject David

1

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

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KJV Study Commentary

The narrative returns to David's crisis, revealing the full extent of Philistine mobilization at Aphek. The Israelite position 'by a fountain which is in Jezreel' places them near the spring that would become strategically important throughout Israel's history. The geographical separation of the armies sets the stage for the confrontation that will decide Saul's fate. David's presence with the Phi...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(1) **Aphek.**—The name Aphek was a common one, and was given to several “places of arms” in Canaan. It signifies a fort or a strong place. This Aphek was most likely situated in the Plain of Jezreel. Eusebius places it in the neighbourhood of En-dor. **By a fountain which is in Jezreel.**—“By a fountain.” The LXX. wrongly adds “dor,” supposing the spring or fountain to be the well-known En-dor—sp...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**27. David ... slew of the Philistines two hundred men--**The number was doubled, partly to show his respect and attachment to the princess, and partly to oblige Saul to the fulfilment of his pledge.
2

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

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KJV Study Commentary

The review of Philistine forces, 'by hundreds, and by thousands,' reveals the magnitude of the army David was expected to fight alongside against Israel. His position 'in the rereward with Achish' (Hebrew: 'ba'acharonah,' in the rear guard) placed him with the king's personal retinue. This prominent position would have made any hesitation or defection highly visible. David's predicament had reache...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2) **And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands.**—The orderly advance of this great military nation is thus described. The “lords” a different term to the expression “princes.” There were apparently in the Philistine federation five sovereign princes, of whom Achish of Gath was one. Beneath these were other chieftains, who seemingly had great control over the sovere...
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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?

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KJV Study Commentary

The Philistine princes' challenge, 'What do these Hebrews here?' uses the ethnic designation 'Ivrim' (Hebrews) with apparent contempt. Their suspicion of David despite Achish's testimony shows that political alliances cannot overcome deep ethnic and religious divisions. Achish's defense of David, noting his time of service 'these days, or these years,' indicates David had been faithful in his visi...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(3) **These days, or these years.**—An indefinite expression of time. The versions have translated it in various ways. The English Version here is literal. The Syrlac singularly renders, “this time, and time, and months.” The LXX. is not very easy to understand here, but it apparently took the expression as signifying “two years.” Maurer would translate, “who has been with me alway, for days, or r...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**29. Saul was yet the more afraid of David--**because Providence had visibly favored him, by not only defeating the conspiracy against his life, but through his royal alliance paving his way to the throne.
4

And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

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KJV Study Commentary

The princes' anger and their reasoning reveal the fear underlying their suspicion. Their concern that David might become 'an adversary' (Hebrew: 'satan,' opponent, accuser) in battle reflects sound military judgment: a defector might re-defect at the crucial moment. The rhetorical question about how David might 'reconcile himself unto his master' (Hebrew: 'adonayw,' Saul as lord) suggests they und...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4) **Go down.**—This is a technical military expression, used constantly, on account of the necessity of the troops descending from the *hill *country in which they were encamped to the plain in order to fight.
5

Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

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KJV Study Commentary

The Philistines' quotation of the women's song, 'Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands,' demonstrates how David's fame had spread even among enemies. This same song provoked Saul's initial jealousy (18:7); now it saves David from fighting against Israel. The irony is profound: the song that began David's troubles with Saul now prevents his greatest moral compromise. God uses David's...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(5) **Of whom they sang.**—The folk-songs, which had originally excited Saul’s jealousy of the young hero David, were current among the Philistines, who seem to have been a musical people. David’s having apparently learned and practised Philistine music when in Gath, which he subsequently introduced into Jerusalem, has been already noticed.
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. the lords: Heb. thou art not good in the eyes of the lords

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KJV Study Commentary

Achish's personal summons to David communicates the decision with remarkable diplomacy. His oath 'as the LORD liveth' (using YHWH, Israel's covenant name) may indicate genuine respect for David's faith or diplomatic courtesy. The assessment that David has been 'upright' (Hebrew: 'yashar') throughout his service is accurate as far as Achish knows. The phrase 'the lords favour thee not' (Hebrew: 'lo...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(6) **Surely, as the Lord liveth.**—This seems a strange oath for an idolatrous prince like the King of Gath to make use of—“By the life of Jehovah.” It was probably the equivalent of the real oath of Achish, unless, as Keil supposes, the Philistine friend of David, in his oath, used the formula which he thought would be most acceptable to David, whom he looked upon as injured falsely by the suspi...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 19 1Sa 19:1-7. Jonathan Discloses His Father's Purpose to Kill David. **1. Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David--**The murderous design he had secretly cherished he now reveals to a few of his intimate friends. Jonathan was among the number. He prudently said nothing at the time, but secretly apprised David of his danger; and waiting till...
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7

Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines. displease: Heb. do not evil in the eyes of the lords

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KJV Study Commentary

Achish's dismissal, 'return, and go in peace,' releases David from the impossible obligation with honor intact. The phrase 'that thou displease not the lords' (Hebrew: 'al-ta'aseh ra' be'eney seraney pelishtim') acknowledges the political reality that Achish cannot override the coalition's decision. David's departure 'in peace' (Hebrew: 'lech beshalom') preserves his relationship with Gath while f...
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8

And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king? with: Heb. before thee

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KJV Study Commentary

David's protest, 'But what have I done?', maintains his deceptive persona while potentially revealing genuine frustration at the ambiguous resolution. His question could be honest indignation at unjust suspicion or strategic performance maintaining his cover with Achish. The ambiguous phrase 'the enemies of my lord the king' could refer to either Achish's enemies (Israel) or Saul's enemies (the Ph...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(8) **And David said unto Achish, But what have I done?**—David’s words have a ring of falseness in them; he never contemplated fighting in the ranks against Israel, and yet he speaks thus. The generous confidence of the chivalrous Achish is here in painful contrast with the dissimulation of the Israelite chieftain, David. It has been suggested that these suspicions of his loyalty on the part of t...
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9

And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

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KJV Study Commentary

Achish's comparison of David to 'an angel of God' (Hebrew: 'kemal'ak elohim') ironically uses divine vocabulary to describe someone whose primary activity has been deception. The Philistine king's complete confidence in David's goodness reveals how thoroughly the deception succeeded. Yet the phrase also carries theological weight: David has indeed functioned as a divine messenger, carrying out Isr...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(9) **As an angel of God.**—Again a simile, which Achish most likely borrowed from Hebrew thought, and made use of in his graceful courtesy as likely to be acceptable to David.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**4-7. Jonathan spake good of David--**He told his father he was committing a great sin to plot against the life of a man who had rendered the most invaluable services to his country and whose loyalty had been uniformly steady and devoted. The strong remonstrances of Jonathan produced an effect on the impulsive mind of his father. As he was still susceptible of good and honest impressions, he boun...
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10

Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.

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KJV Study Commentary

Achish's final instructions establish the practical arrangements for David's departure. The phrase 'thy master's servants that are come with thee' (Hebrew: 'avdey adonekha') may refer to David's men as servants of Saul (their former allegiance) or as David's own followers. The instruction to leave at first light ensures David's departure is orderly and visible, preventing any accusation of deserti...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(10) **With thy master’s servants.**—The words have perplexed expositors. It is hardly the expression we should expect Achish to use of David’s followers. All Israelites were, of course, “subjects of Saul,” but the term would hardly be used except by one hostile to David, as Nabal was; he once (1Samuel 25:10) made use of an insulting term of a like nature to David. Achish, we know, seemed ever kin...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**4-7. Jonathan spake good of David--**He told his father he was committing a great sin to plot against the life of a man who had rendered the most invaluable services to his country and whose loyalty had been uniformly steady and devoted. The strong remonstrances of Jonathan produced an effect on the impulsive mind of his father. As he was still susceptible of good and honest impressions, he boun...
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11

So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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KJV Study Commentary

The chapter's conclusion, noting David's early departure and the Philistines' advance to Jezreel, sets the stage for simultaneous narratives: David returning to Ziklag and the Philistines marching to battle. The separation of these storylines creates dramatic tension. While David travels south, the battle that will change Israel's history proceeds north. Divine providence has extracted David from ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(11) **To return into the land of the Philistines.**—No doubt David and his officers rejoiced at their escaping the terrible alternative of either turning traitors to the kindly man who had so hospitably received them in their distress, or of appearing in arms with the Philistines when they came into collision with the Israelites under Saul. But they little thought in how sore a danger their wives...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**4-7. Jonathan spake good of David--**He told his father he was committing a great sin to plot against the life of a man who had rendered the most invaluable services to his country and whose loyalty had been uniformly steady and devoted. The strong remonstrances of Jonathan produced an effect on the impulsive mind of his father. As he was still susceptible of good and honest impressions, he boun...
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