1 Samuel 29:7

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


FOOTNOTES:

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

1 Samuel 29:7 In-Context

5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
6 Then A'chish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you 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."
8 And David said to A'chish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"
9 And A'chish made answer to David, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.