1 Samuel 27:2

2 So David left; he and his six hundred men went to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.

1 Samuel 27:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 27:2

And David arose
From the place where he was:

and he passed over;
the borders of land of Canaan:

with the six hundred men that [were] with him;
having neither lost any, nor had any added to him, since he was at Keilah, ( 1 Samuel 23:13 ) ;

unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath;
whether this was the same Achish David was with before, ( 1 Samuel 21:10-13 ) , is not certain; it seems as if he was not the same, since he is described as the son of Maoch, as if it was to distinguish him from him; though it is not improbable that he was the same person. Some think ^F1 that he is described not from his father, but from his mother, whose name was Maacha. The circumstances of David were now very much altered from what they were when he went to Gath before; then he went secretly, now openly; then as a person unknown, now as well known; then alone, now with six hundred men; then when discovered he was seized by the princes of Gath, and brought before the king, and was driven from his presence; but now he came either at the invitation of Achish, hearing how he had been treated by Saul, and thinking to attach him to his interest, and make him more and more the enemy of Saul, and so free himself from a very powerful one, and of whose wisdom and prudence, and military skill, and courage, and valour, he might hope to avail himself; or David sent an embassy to him, to treat with him about his coming into his country, and settlement in it, and terms to mutual satisfaction were agreed upon.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Hieron. Trad. Heb, in 2 Reg. fol. 78. E.

1 Samuel 27:2 In-Context

1 David thought to himself, "Sooner or later, Saul's going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to Philistine country. Saul will count me a lost cause and quit hunting me down in every nook and cranny of Israel. I'll be out of his reach for good."

2 So David left; he and his six hundred men went to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 They moved in and settled down in Gath, with Achish. Each man brought his household; David brought his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, widow of Nabal of Carmel.

4 When Saul was told that David had escaped to Gath, he called off the hunt.

5 Then David said to Achish, "If it's agreeable to you, assign me a place in one of the rural villages. It doesn't seem right that I, your mere servant, should be taking up space in the royal city."