Shmuel Alef 28:1

1 8 And it came to pass in those yamim, that the Pelishtim gathered their machanot together for tzava (warfare), to fight with Yisroel. And Achish said unto Dovid, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to machaneh, thou and thy anashim.

Shmuel Alef 28:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 28:1

And it came to pass in those days
That David was in the country of the Philistines:

that the Philistines gathered their armies together:
out of their five principalities or lordships:

for warfare to fight with Israel;
with whom they were continually at war, and though sometimes there was a cessation of arms, yet never any settled peace; and the Philistines took every opportunity and advantage against them, as they now did; when David was among them, and so had nothing to fear from him, but rather expected his assistance; and Samuel was dead, and Saul in a frenzy:

and Achish said unto David:
who seems to have been at the head of the combined armies of the Philistines:

know thou assuredly that thou shall go with me to battle, thou and thy
men;
against Israel; which was a trying thing to David, and whereby he was like to be drawn into a dilemma; either to fight against his country, which he could not do conscientiously; or be guilty of ingratitude to Achish, and incur his displeasure, and be liable to be turned out of his country, or treated in a worse manner, even he and his men, to be seized on and cut to pieces by the forces of the Philistines, should he refuse.

Shmuel Alef 28:1 In-Context

1 8 And it came to pass in those yamim, that the Pelishtim gathered their machanot together for tzava (warfare), to fight with Yisroel. And Achish said unto Dovid, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to machaneh, thou and thy anashim.

2 And Dovid said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy eved will do. And Achish said to Dovid, Therefore will I make thee my shomer rosh (head bodyguard) kol hayamim.

3 Now Shmuel was dead, and kol Yisroel had mourned him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own town. And Sha’ul had deported the ovot (mediums, those with familiar spirits), and the yidonim (spiritists) from HaAretz.

4 And the Pelishtim gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem; and Sha’ul gathered kol Yisroel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.

5 And when Sha’ul saw the machaneh of the Pelishtim, he was afraid, and his lev greatly trembled.