1 Samuel 21 Footnotes

21:12-15 The narrative of 1 Samuel presents two differing pictures of Achish’s relationship with David (see 29:6-9). Here David is afraid of Achish, who considers him a madman. In the later passage, David is Achish’s trusted ally and bodyguard (27:12; 28:2; 29:6-9).

These accounts are not at odds with one another; evidently Achish changed his opinion of David over time. During David’s earlier career, Achish knew him only as a dangerous enemy of the Philistines and loyal servant of Saul. Later he learned that David had become Saul’s most feared enemy, which made him potentially a valued partner with the Philistines. Achish gladly modified his stance toward David, and accepted him as a comrade-in-arms.