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1 Samuel 29:1-11 open_in_new
The Philistines Gather In Readiness For The Invasion of Israel And Refuse To Have David In Their Company (1 Samuel 29:1-11).
This passage brings out how very much the concentration of the writer of Samuel is on the personalities involved, and how little on the history. Here was one of the great moments of history when the massed hosts of the Philistines, stronger than ever before, were about to overwhelm Israel, and, probably for the first time since their arrival in Canaan, extend their empire over the River Jordan. It is covering the period of the establishment of the Philistine Empire at its largest, and the total subjugation of most of Israel. And what is the writer's concentration on? The one who did not take part in the battle because he was not to be trusted by the Philistines (David), and what he meanwhile accomplished against a gathering of the tribes of Amalekites. In other words what the writer is interested in is what happened with David, and what subsequently happened to Saul (and had happened in 1 Samuel 28). His interest is in YHWH's activity in history. The Philistines' activities are simply colourful background. What he is concerned with here is the outworking of YHWH's purposes. This is the story of YHWH.
David was certainly put on the spot as a result of the call to join in the invasion of Israel. Had he actually had to do so it is questionable whether he would ever have been able to re-establish his acceptability to the Israelites. But we are expected to see that YHWH intervened and prevented him from having to do so.
This being turned back was also providential for another reason, for while the Philistine army was on the march, unknown to anyone the Amalekites had taken advantage of the situation in order to invade the southern parts of Judah and Philistia, including Ziklag. With David on war duty, and gone for the duration, and both Judah and Philistia emptied of its main fighting troops, it was seen by them as too good an opportunity to be missed. And it would give them even more satisfaction in that they would be gaining vengeance for what David had done to their fellow-tribesmen (1 Samuel 27:8-9). They never dreamed that because YHWH was at work watching over His people David might return so soon.
Analysis.
a Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel (1 Samuel 29:1).
b And the lords of the Philistines passed on by ‘hundreds', and by ‘thousands' (smaller and larger military units), and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish (1 Samuel 29:2).
c Then said the princes of the Philistines, “What do these Hebrews here?” And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away to me unto this day?” But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him, and the princes of the Philistines said to him, “Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where you have appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For by what method should this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Should it not be with the heads of these men?” (1 Samuel 29:3-4).
d “Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?” (1 Samuel 29:5).
e Then Achish called David, and said to him, “As YHWH lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the host is good in my sight, for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day (1 Samuel 29:6 a).
f Nevertheless the lords do not favour you. For this reason now return, and go in peace, that you displease not the lords of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 29:6-7).
e And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant for as long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” (1 Samuel 29:8).
d And Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God.”
c “Notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle'. For this reason now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who are come with you, and as soon as you are up early in the morning, and have light, depart” (1 Samuel 29:9-10).
b So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines (1 Samuel 29:11 a).
a And the Philistines went up to Jezreel (1 Samuel 29:11 b).
Note that in ‘a' Israel were encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel, and in the parallel the Philistines went up to Jezreel. In ‘b' David went up with the Philistines, and in the parallel he returns from following the Philistines. In ‘c' the Philistines refuse to let him ‘go down to battle' and command that he return to Philistia, and in the parallel Achish points this out and tells him to return to Philistia. In ‘d' the women of Israel sang of David's glory, and in the parallel Achish sees him as ‘like an angel of God'. In ‘e' Achish declares him faithful and reliable and in the parallel David argues that he is faithful and reliable. In ‘f' it is stressed that David is not favoured by the lords of the Philistines, and that he must therefore go in peace and return to Ziklag.