1 Samuel 29

CHAPTER 29

Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag (29:1–11)

1–3 In these verses, the writer resumes the account of the Philistines gathering their forces to fight Israel (see 1 Samuel 18:1). They gathered at Aphek (verse 1), and then proceeded to march northward to Shunem (1 Samuel 28:4). David and his six hundred men were marching at the rear of the main Philistine army (verse 2). During the march, the Philistine commanders questioned the wisdom of allowing David to fight alongside the Philistines. But Achish assured the commanders that they didn’t need to worry about David; he told them, “I have found no fault in him” (verse 3).

4–7 The commanders, however, were not convinced. They remembered how the Hebrews (Israelites) living among them had gone over to Israel’s side in a previous battle (1 Samuel 14:21). Furthermore, they knew about David’s fame as a warrior, reflected in the popular song people sang about him (verse 5). So in the end Achish had to ask David to turn back to the place . . . assigned him (verse 4)—that is, Ziklag (1 Samuel 27:6).

Achish had a second reason for sending David back to Ziklag: the Philistine rulers¹⁰⁷ did not approve of David, and Achish did not want to displease them (verse 7). After all, Achish was personally benefiting from David’s services (or so he thought), and he didn’t want the other rulers to force David to leave Philistine territory. Neither did Achish want to displease David; he assured David that he found no fault in him, and even swore to that effect using the name of Israel’s LORD in order to convince David of his sincerity (verse 6).

8–11 David, for his part, pretended to be disappointed (verse 8). But secretly he must have been relieved, because now he would not be forced to fight against his fellow Israelites. The Lord Himself had intervened and given David a way out of his dilemma.