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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:1-7

Here is, I. The prevalency of David's fear, which was the effect of the weakness of his faith (1 Sam. 27:1): He said to his heart (so it may be read), in his communings with it concerning his present condition, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. He represented to himself the restless rage and malice of Saul (who could not be wrought into a reconciliation) and the treachery of his own countrymen, witness that of the Ziphites, once and again; he looked upon his own forces, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:8-12

Here is an account of David's actions while he was in the land of the Philistines, a fierce attack he made upon some remains of the devoted nations, his success in it, and the representation he gave of it to Achish. 1. We may acquit him of injustice and cruelty in this action because those people whom he cut off were such as heaven had long since doomed to destruction, and he that did it was one whom heaven had ordained to dominion; so that the thing was very fit to be done, and he was very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:3

And David dwelt with Achish at Gath ,.... The metropolis of his kingdom, called, 1 Samuel 27:5 , the royal city: he and his men, every man with his household ; or family; which they brought with them, to secure them from the malice of Saul; who in their absence might have destroyed them, as being the families of traitors and fugitives, and might be the more readily received by Achish, as he might hope for some advantage front them; and besides were pledges of their fidelity to him, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:4

And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath ,.... Who very probably had his spies out to watch his motions, and report to him where he was, and what he was doing: and he sought no more again for him ; by which it seems as if he would have sought after him again, had he continued in the land of Israel; but now being gone, and in an enemy's country, and having nothing to fear from him while there, he laid aside all thoughts of seeking after him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:5

And David said unto Achish ,.... After he had been some time with him: if I have now found grace in thine eyes ; or was in favour, as he thought himself to be, by various instances of respect shown him: let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there : he does not ask for a city or town, but a place in one of them, though one was given him; but of whom he asks it, it is not easy to say; though it is certain that Achish gave it him, 1 Samuel 27:6 .... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:6

Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day ,.... A city which in the division of the land was given to the tribe of Judah, and after that to the tribe of Simeon, Joshua 15:31 ; though it seems not to have been possessed by either of them, at least not long, but soon came into the hands of the Philistines, who kept it till this time, and now it returned to its right owners; according to Bunting F7 Travels, &c.; p. 136. it was twelve miles from Gath: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:7

And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines ,.... At Gath and Ziklag: was a full year and four months ; or "days and four months"; days being sometimes put for a year, Judges 17:10 ; though some interpret it not of a year, but of some few days out of the fifth month, besides the four months; so Jarchi and Kimchi; and Josephus F8 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 13. sect. 10. makes his abode to be four months and twenty days; but, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:8

And David and his men went up ,.... From Ziklag, where they dwelt: and invaded the Geshurites ; some of the old inhabitants of the land of Canaan, the remains of the Amorites, whose land was given to the half tribe of Manasseh, but could never be expelled; and therefore David had a just right to invade them, and, if he could, either expel or destroy them; see Deuteronomy 3:14 ; these are the Geshurites which are joined with the Philistines, Joshua 13:2 , and the Gezrites ; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:9

And David smote the land ,.... In which the above mentioned people dwelt, that is, the inhabitants of it: and left neither man nor woman alive ; for these being the old Canaanites and Amalekites, according to the law of God were not to be spared, but utterly destroyed; which may be observed to remove the charge of cruelty that might be brought against David on this account, Deuteronomy 7:2 ; though this must be understood of such that came within his reach; for it is certain there were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:10

And Achish said, whither have ye made a road today ?.... Or whither had they rushed in, or poured in and spread themselves? or where had they made their excursion to fetch in the prey and booty they now brought? and David said, against the south of Judah ; he meant against some people that lay to the south of the land of Judah, without it; but expressed himself so, that Achish might think he meant the southern parts of Judah within the country; which, though not a downright lie, was an... read more

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