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George Haydock's Catholic Commentary

1 Samuel 28:2

Do; or "can do." Thou wilt be convinced of my valour and fidelity. (Haydock) --- But could David lawfully fight against his brethren? or could he desert Achis in the heat of the engagement? His answer is ambiguous. (Calmet) --- He prudently committed his cause into the hands of Providence, resolved to do nothing contrary to his duty, and to abide by God's decision, in this critical juncture, so that Cajetan blames him unjustly. (Salien; Menochius; Tirinus) --- Guard. Septuagint, "captain of my body guard."

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See also 1 Samuel 28:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Samuel 28:2. _SURELY THOU SHALT KNOW WHAT THY SERVANT CAN DO_] This was another equivocal answer; and could only be understood by his succeeding conduct. It might imply what he _could do_ in...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THOU SHALT KNOW ... - David dissembled (compare also 1 Samuel 29:8), hoping, no doubt, that something would happen to prevent his fighting against his king and country. KEEPER OF MINE HEAD - Captain...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    7. SAUL AND THE WITCH AT ENDOR CHAPTER 28 _ 1. David fully joined to Achish (1 Samuel 28:1)_ 2. Forsaken Saul (1 Samuel 28:3) 3. The command to seek a witch (1 Samuel 28:7) 4. Saul's visit t

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 SAMUEL 28:2 is continued by 1 Samuel 29:1; the _connexion is_ broken by the insertion of 1 SAMUEL 28:3. SAUL AND THE WITCH OF ENDOR. This section interrupts the connexion; moreover, it would come n...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SURELY. Therefore; which Achish repeats in his reply. KEEPER OF MINE HEAD: i.e. captain of my body-guard....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Surely thou shalt know_ Better, THEREFORE NOW SHALT THOU KNOW: reading _now_for _thou_with the Sept. and Vulg. David's answer is designedly ambiguous. He is placed in a perplexing dilemma. It seems a...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    IT CAME TO PASS IN THOSE DAYS— The Philistines, recruited about this time, as Sir Isaac Newton judges, by vast numbers of men driven out of Egypt by Amasis, resolve upon a new war with Israel; nor wer...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Preparations for Saul's Last Battle, 1 Samuel 28:1 to 1 Samuel 29:11. _David With Achish in Battle._ 1 Samuel 28:1-2 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies toge...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND DAVID SAID TO ACHISH, SURELY THOU SHALT KNOW WHAT THY SERVANT CAN DO. AND ACHISH SAID TO DAVID, THEREFORE WILL I MAKE THEE KEEPER OF MINE HEAD FOR EVER._ Surely thou shalt know what thy servant...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    28:2 person (c-28) Lit. 'head.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    KEEPER OF MINE HEAD] i.e. captain of my body-guard....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SAUL AND THE WITCH OF ENDOR 1 Samuel 28:3 come from another document and interrupt the connexion, as will be seen if the account is read without them. In order of time their proper position is after 1...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 28 V1 Later, the *Philistines gathered their army to fight the *Israelites. Achish said to David, ‘You must realise that you and your men must...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND DAVID SAID TO ACHISH. — Sorely perplexed, David temporises. He dares not refuse; and yet, the idea of commanding a Philistine division in a war with Israel was to him a terrible alternative. AND A...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל ־אָכִ֔ישׁ לָכֵן֙ אַתּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXXIII _ DAVID'S SECOND FLIGHT TO GATH._ 1 Samuel 27:1; 1 Samuel 28:1; 1 Samuel 29:1. WE are not prepared for the sad decline in the spirit of trust which is recorded in the beginning of the...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    RESORTING TO A FAMILIAR SPIRIT 1 Samuel 28:1 This chapter records the climax to which Saul's sins led, and which sealed his fate. See 1 Chronicles 10:13. He went back to that which he had put away an...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    It is strange how this story has been made to serve in defense of things occult, which, as a matter of fact, it condemns. Let it be carefully read, and it becomes perfectly patent that this woman had...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (2) And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head forever. The situation of David was critical. Ho...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We enter now on a portion of David's history sensibly different from what we have already had, which closed with the efforts of Jonathan to restore matters and to attach Saul to him at least openly. J...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Saul, as well as Israel at present, was in a still worse position, having succour neither from God nor from the enemy. Saul is forsaken of God. Samuel is dead; so that Israel is no longer in connectio...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND DAVID SAID TO ACHISH, SURELY THOU SHALT KNOW WHAT THY SERVANT CAN DO,.... By which he would have Achish understand, and so he did, that he would exert himself in favour of the Philistines, and aga...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. Ver. 2. _Surely thou shalt know what thy s...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _David said, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do_ He answered ambiguously, as he did before. _Achish said, Therefore will I make thee keeper of my head_ That is, he promised to make him cap...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Achish putteth confidence in Dauid. 3 Saul hauing destroyed the witches, 4 and now in his feare forsaken of God, 7 seeketh to a witch. 9 The witch, encouraged by Saul, raiseth vp Samuel. 15 Sau...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And David said to Achish, Surely, since circumstances were of such a nature, THOU SHALT KNOW WHAT THY SERVANT CAN DO. David's answer was purposely evasive and ambiguous, but Achish took it to promise...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE CONSULTATION WITH THE WITCH...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The inevitable conflict between Israel and the Philistines arises again, and David finds himself in an unpleasant situation Achish tells him that he and his men must accompany Achish to fight against...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 David could not refuse Achish without danger. If he promised assistance, and then stood neuter, or went over to the Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude and treachery. If he fought agains...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    DAVID speaks ambitiously, as he did before, that Achish might understand him, as he did, of his acting for him against the Israelites; whereas he meant it of his acting for the Israelites against the...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 28:2 David H1732 said H559 (H8799) Achish H397 Surely H3651 know H3045 (H8799) servant H5650 do...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: David among Israel's enemies. Saul consults the witch. CHARACTERS: God, David, Saul, Samuel, Achish, witch. CONCLUSION: Seek the Lord while He may be found for there is a time when He will...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 28:4. _Shunem,_ in the tribe of Issachar, not far from mount Hermon. 1 Samuel 28:7. _A woman that hath a familiar spirit:_ a mistress of OB. See Deuteronomy 18:11. The LXX read _pythoness,_ a...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel._ NIGHT PRECEDING BATTLE As the flash of lightning reveals the hidden scenery around, so the reception of momentous n...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 28:1 After David has been with Achish for over a year, the Philistines decide to attack Israel. Apparently they wanted to gain control over the northern Jezreel Valley, a wid...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 28:1. “KNOW THOU ASSUREDLY.” Some expositors regard these words of Achish as designed to try David: others think they express the entire confidence which the k...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    DOWNFALL AND DEATH OF SAUL (CHS. 28-31.) THE PHILISTINES GATHER TOGETHER FOR WAR. DISTRESS OF SAUL, AND VISIT TO THE WITCH OF...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, Know assuredly, that you shall go out to battle with...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 27:10; 2 Samuel 16:16; Romans 12:9...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Can do — He speaks ambiguously, as he did before....

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