1 Samuel 29:1-7

The Philistines Reject David

1 ¹Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at ²Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by ³the spring that is in ⁴Jezreel.

2 As ⁵the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear ⁶with Achish,

3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here? ” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me ⁷now for days and years, and since he deserted to me ⁸I have found no fault in him to this day. ”

4 But ⁹the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return ¹⁰to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, ¹¹lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here?

5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ¹²‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’? ”

6 Then Achish called David and said to him, ¹³“As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that ¹⁴you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you.

7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines. ”

1 Samuel 29:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 29

This chapter gives an account of David's going forth with the armies of the Philistines, 1Sa 29:1,2; of his being objected to by the princes of the Philistines, who insisted upon his being sent back, 1Sa 29:3-5; of the report Achish made of it to David, and the discourse that passed between them upon it, 1Sa 29:6-10; whereby David had a way unexpectedly opened for him to be freed from this service, which he gladly embraced, 1Sa 29:11.

Cross References

• 1. 29:1 ch. 28:1
• 2. 29:1 ch. 4:1; Josh. 12:18
• 3. 29:1 Judg. 7:1
• 4. 29:1 Josh. 17:16
• 5. 29:2 Josh. 13:3
• 6. 29:2 ch. 28:1, 2
• 7. 29:3 [ch. 27:7]
• 8. 29:3 [Dan. 6:5]
• 9. 29:4 [See ver. 2 above]
• 10. 29:4 ch. 27:6; 30:1
• 11. 29:4 [ch. 14:21]
• 12. 29:5 ch. 18:7; 21:11
• 13. 29:6 See ch. 20:3
• 14. 29:6 2 Sam. 3:25; 2 Kgs. 19:27; Ps. 121:8; Isa. 37:28