1 Samuelchapter 29

A.The Philistine lords will not have David in the battlevv. 1-5

1 Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. 3 Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men? 5 Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

B.Sent back at daybreak, good as an angel of Godvv. 6-11

6 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders. 7 Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.” 8 “But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’ 10 Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.” 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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Chapter summary

The Philistine armies pass in review at Aphek, David and his men marching in the rear with Achish, and the lords demand to know what these Hebrews are doing there.

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The Philistine armies pass in review at Aphek, David and his men marching in the rear with Achish, and the lords demand to know what these Hebrews are doing there. Achish defends him warmly (I have found no fault in him since he fell away unto me) but the princes are angry and remember the song: is this not David, of whom they sang, Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands? He shall not go down with us, lest in the battle he become an adversary. Achish sends him home with a soldier's compliment, that he is good in his sight as an angel of God, and providence quietly spares David from drawing a sword at Gilboa.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Samuel, Nathan, Gad — 1 Samuel overview

A. 1–5 The Philistine lords will not have David in the battle
B. 6–11 Sent back at daybreak, good as an angel of God

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Joshua 192 verses
- Joshua 19:18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
- Joshua 19:30Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.
- Read Joshua 19 →
1 Samuel 292 verses
- 1 Samuel 29:1Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
- 1 Samuel 29:6So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.
- Read 1 Samuel 29 →
1 Samuel 272 verses
- 1 Samuel 27:6That day Achish gave him Ziklag, and to this day it still belongs to the kings of Judah.
- 1 Samuel 27:7And the time that David lived in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.
- Read 1 Samuel 27 →
2 Samuel 142 verses
- 2 Samuel 14:17And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”
- 2 Samuel 14:20Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”
- Read 2 Samuel 14 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 Chronicles 121 verse
- 1 Chronicles 12:19Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”)
- Read 1 Chronicles 12 →
1 Samuel 41 verse
- 1 Samuel 4:1Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.
- Read 1 Samuel 4 →
2 Kings 91 verse
- 2 Kings 9:30Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window.
- Read 2 Kings 9 →
1 Samuel 281 verse
- 1 Samuel 28:1Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
- Read 1 Samuel 28 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.