Achish

How Nave’s arranged it

• (King of the Philistines, also called ABIMELECH)
• David escapes to1 Samuel 21:10–151 Samuel 271 Samuel 28:11 Samuel 28:21 Samuel 291 Kings 2:391 Kings 2:40

The passages, in Bible order (7)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 7 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. 1 Samuel 21:10–15

   That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:10–152 voices

   “In this place his person must have been known, and to venture into that country, he their greatest enemy, and with the sword of Goliath in his hand, would seem to have been a perilous experiment; but, doubtless, the protection he received implies that he had been directed by the divine oracle. Achish was generous (1Sa 27:6).

   “Went to Achish the king of Gath - This was the worst place to which he could have gone: it was the very city of Goliath, whom he had slain, and whose sword he now wore; and he soon found, from the conversation of the servants of Achish, that his life was in the most imminent danger in this place.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 21:10–15→

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2. 1 Samuel 27:1

   David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 27:12 voices

   “David said in his heart, . . . there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines--This resolution of David's was, in every respect, wrong: (1) It was removing him from the place where the divine oracle intimated him to remain (1Sa 22:5);

   "When the Philistines held him in Gath"; this is recounted in the text of the book of Kings [Samuel]. David was terrorized by attacks of Saul and thought that he would be hidden in the city of Gath among the Philistines. But we have said …

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 27:1→

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3. 1 Samuel 28:1

   Now 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.”

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 28:12 voices

   “The Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel--The death of Samuel, the general dissatisfaction with Saul, and the absence of David, instigated the cupidity of those restless enemies of Israel. Achish said to David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle--This was evidently to try him.

   “And Achis said to David: Knowing now, know, etc. Which is clearly that all Catholics propose to combat the erring by reproving, reasoning, or remembering the words of Scripture, to say to the Lord: God, you know our foolishness and weakness (Psalm LXVIII), for without …

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 28:1→

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4. 1 Samuel 28:2

   David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 28:22 voices

   “And David said to Achish, surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do,....

   “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 favor of the Philistines against Israel; or in favor of Israel against the Philistines. Achish understood it in the former sense; and therefore he said to David, I will make thee keeper of my head for ever; i.e., Thou shalt be captain of my life-guards.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 28:2→

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5. 1 Samuel 29:1

   Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 29:12 voices

   “Achish, who had been kind to David, had obliged him to come himself and bring the forces he had into his service. David came accordingly, and, upon a review of the army, was found with Achish, in the post assigned him in the rear,

   “A person who compares the Bible account of Saul's last battle with the Philistines, with the region around Gilboa, has the same sort of evidence that the account relates what is true, that a person would have that such a battle as Waterloo really took place. Gilboa, Jezreel, Shunem, En-dor, are all found, still bearing the same names.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 29:1→

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6. 1 Kings 2:39

   After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 2:392 voices

   “Achish - A king, but subject and tributary, to Solomon. Permitted to enjoy the title and honour of a king, but not the full power; whence it was, that Achish could not keep these servants though they had fled to him for protection; but suffered Shimei to take them away from his royal city.

   “And it came to pass, at the end of three years,....

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 2:39→

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7. 1 Kings 2:40

   So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 2:402 voices

   “And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants,....

   “For the keeping of it private he saddled his ass himself, probably went in the night, and came home he thought undiscovered. "Seeking his servants," says bishop Hall, "he lost himself; those earthly things either are, or should be, our servants. How commonly do we see men run out of the bounds set by God's law, to hunt after them, till their souls incur a fearful judgment!" 4.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 2:40→

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