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The Histories · Old Testament

1 Samuel 29

The Philistine commanders send David back

General context

David and his men march with Achish as the Philistine forces gather. Other commanders object that he could turn against them during battle to regain Saul's favor. Achish defends David's conduct but yields to their demand. David questions his exclusion, and Achish repeats the order to leave early. David's company returns toward Philistine territory while the army advances to Jezreel.

Cited passages: 1 Samuel 29:1, 1 Samuel 29:2, 1 Samuel 29:3, 1 Samuel 29:4, 1 Samuel 29:5, 1 Samuel 29:6, 1 Samuel 29:7, 1 Samuel 29:8, 1 Samuel 29:9, 1 Samuel 29:10, 1 Samuel 29:11

1 Samuel 29 (KJV)

1Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

2And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

3Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

4And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

5Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

6Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the Lord liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.

7Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.

8And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

9And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

10Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master’s servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.

11So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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Historical context

The muster is at Aphek, with Israel camped by a spring at Jezreel. David's men are in the rear with Achish. The commanders recall the same victory song that made David famous and use his earlier success against the Philistines to argue against trusting him in their ranks. Their suspicion is stated as a feared possibility, not as proof of a secret battle plan David has disclosed.

Cited passages: 1 Samuel 29:1, 1 Samuel 29:2, 1 Samuel 29:3, 1 Samuel 29:4, 1 Samuel 29:5, 1 Samuel 18:6, 1 Samuel 18:7, 1 Samuel 18:8

Literary context

Achish's repeated confidence contrasts with the commanders' refusal to accept David. The reader has already learned that Achish believes David's misleading raid reports. Here David protests the dismissal, but the chapter does not reveal what he intended to do in battle. Its ending separates his route from the army's before the fighting begins.

Cited passages: 1 Samuel 29:3, 1 Samuel 29:4, 1 Samuel 29:5, 1 Samuel 29:6, 1 Samuel 29:7, 1 Samuel 29:8, 1 Samuel 29:9, 1 Samuel 29:10, 1 Samuel 29:11, 1 Samuel 27:8, 1 Samuel 27:9, 1 Samuel 27:10, 1 Samuel 27:11, 1 Samuel 27:12

Key moments

  1. David in the rear ranks (1 Samuel 29:2). David and his men march behind the Philistine forces with Achish.
  2. The commanders object (1 Samuel 29:4). They fear David could reconcile himself with Saul by turning against them.
  3. Achish orders a return (1 Samuel 29:7). He tells David to leave peaceably because the rulers do not favor him.
  4. Separate routes (1 Samuel 29:11). David's men turn back while the Philistine army goes to Jezreel.

For reflection

How do Achish and the other commanders interpret the same man's presence differently, and what information does the reader have that Achish lacks?

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