1 Samuel 29:7

7 So then, return and go in peace, so that you do not do {something that displeases} the rulers of [the] Philistines."

1 Samuel 29:7 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 29:7

Wherefore now return
To Ziklag:

and go in peace;
not only in a peaceable manner, easy and satisfied, as David was at his very heart to hear this, but all prosperity and happiness attend thee; the Jews ^F14 distinguish between wishing persons to go in peace, and to go to peace; the former they observe has not issued happily, when the other has, and they instance in the wish of Jethro to Moses, and of David to Absalom;

that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines:
and what would be the consequence of that he could not say, but suggests it would be most for his peace and safety to depart.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 64. 1. Sepher Alphes, par. 1. fol. 421. 2.

1 Samuel 29:7 In-Context

5 [Is] this not David about whom they sing in the dances, saying, 'Saul has killed his thousands, but David his ten thousands'?"

6 So Achish called David and said to him, "{As Yahweh lives}, certainly you were honest, and {I am pleased to have you marching with me} in the campaign. For I have not found any wrong in you from the day you came to me until this day, but in the eyes of the rulers, you [are] not good.

7 So then, return and go in peace, so that you do not do {something that displeases} the rulers of [the] Philistines."

8 Then David said to Achish, "But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day that I {entered your service} until this day, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

9 And Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you [are] good in my eyes, like an angel of God! However, the commanders of [the] Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us into the battle.'

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "bad/evil in the eyes of"