1 Samuel 29 - Introduction
XXIX. (1 Samuel 29:1) David and his Band is looked upon by the Philistine Lords with Suspicion, and is obliged to withdraw; preserving still the Friendship of Achish.... [ Continue Reading ]
XXIX. (1 Samuel 29:1) David and his Band is looked upon by the Philistine Lords with Suspicion, and is obliged to withdraw; preserving still the Friendship of Achish.... [ Continue Reading ]
APHEK. — The name Aphek was a common one, and was given to several “places of arms” in Canaan. It signifies a fort or a strong place. This Aphek was most likely situated in the Plain of Jezreel. Eusebius places it in the neighbourhood of En-dor. BY A FOUNTAIN WHICH IS IN JEZREEL. — “By a fountain.”... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES PASSED ON BY HUNDREDS, AND BY THOUSANDS. — The orderly advance of this great military nation is thus described. The “lords” a different term to the expression “princes.” There were apparently in the Philistine federation five sovereign princes, of whom Achish of Gath... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE DAYS, OR THESE YEARS. — An indefinite expression of time. The versions have translated it in various ways. The English Version here is literal. The Syrlac singularly renders, “this time, and time, and months.” The LXX. is not very easy to understand here, but it apparently took the expression... [ Continue Reading ]
GO DOWN. — This is a technical military expression, used constantly, on account of the necessity of the troops descending from the _hill_ country in which they were encamped to the plain in order to fight.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM THEY SANG. — The folk-songs, which had originally excited Saul’s jealousy of the young hero David, were current among the Philistines, who seem to have been a musical people. David’s having apparently learned and practised Philistine music when in Gath, which he subsequently introduced into... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY, AS THE LORD LIVETH. — This seems a strange oath for an idolatrous prince like the King of Gath to make use of — “By the life of Jehovah.” It was probably the equivalent of the real oath of Achish, unless, as Keil supposes, the Philistine friend of David, in his oath, used the formula which h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SAID UNTO ACHISH, BUT WHAT HAVE I DONE? — David’s words have a ring of falseness in them; he never contemplated fighting in the ranks against Israel, and yet he speaks thus. The generous confidence of the chivalrous Achish is here in painful contrast with the dissimulation of the Israelite... [ Continue Reading ]
AS AN ANGEL OF GOD. — Again a simile, which Achish most likely borrowed from Hebrew thought, and made use of in his graceful courtesy as likely to be acceptable to David.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THY MASTER’S SERVANTS. — The words have perplexed expositors. It is hardly the expression we should expect Achish to use of David’s followers. All Israelites were, of course, “subjects of Saul,” but the term would hardly be used except by one hostile to David, as Nabal was; he once (1 Samuel 25... [ Continue Reading ]
TO RETURN INTO THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES. — No doubt David and his officers rejoiced at their escaping the terrible alternative of either turning traitors to the kindly man who had so hospitably received them in their distress, or of appearing in arms with the Philistines when they came into colli... [ Continue Reading ]