1 Samuel 27:8-9 NLT

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 27:8

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 27:9

David smote the land - Here was a complete extirpation of all these people, not one being left alive, lest he should carry tidings of the disasters of his country! The spoil which David took consisted of sheep, oxen, asses, camels, and apparel. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:5-12

The perils of expediency. The facts are— 1 . David, being unwilling to live in the royal city, seeks and obtains Ziklag as his place of abode. 2 . During his stay there he makes war on neighbouring tribes. 3 . He gives Achish the impression that he was acting in hostility to Judah, and so creates the belief that henceforth he must be an ally of the Philistine. The painful backsliding of David is a reminder of the frailty of the best of men, and should induce great watchfulness... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:8

Went up. The Geshurites inhabited the high table land which forms the northeastern portion of the wilderness of Paran. Like the Kenites, they seem to have broken up into scattered tribes, as we find one portion of them in the neighbourhood of Bashan ( Deuteronomy 3:14 ), and another in Syria ( 2 Samuel 15:8 ). Probably, like the Amalekites, they were a Bedouin race, and so great wanderers. Hence the verb translated invaded is literally "spread themselves out" like a fan, so as to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:9-10

David smote the land. These expeditions were made partly to occupy his men, but chiefly to obtain the means of subsistence. They also seem to have brought David great renown, for in 1 Chronicles 12:1-22 we read of warriors from far distant tribes coming to him to swell his forces, and the enthusiasm for him was even such that a band of men swam across the Jordan to join him ( ibid. 1 Chronicles 12:15 ); while others from Manasseh deserted to him from Saul's army before the battle of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 27:8

The Geshurites bordered upon the Philistines, and lived in the mountainous district which terminates the desert on the northeast (marginal reference). They were a different tribe, or, at least, a different branch of it, from the Geshurites who lived on the northeast border of Bashan, and were Arameans 2 Samuel 15:8. The Gezrites, or Gerzites, may be connected with those who gave their name to Mount Gerizim. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 27:8

1 Samuel 27:8. David and his men invaded the Geshurites, &c. These were some remains of the Amorites, and other ancient inhabitants of the country; whom God, for their inveterate and incorrigible wickedness, had commanded to be extirpated. And they “were not confederate with Achish, but in a state of hostility with him; particularly the Amalekites, whom we find soon after making great depredations upon the Philistine territories, chap. 1 Samuel 30:16. David, therefore, did not act in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 27:9

1 Samuel 27:9. And left neither man nor woman alive In that part where he came; but there were many of the Amalekites yet left in another part of that land. read more

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 27:9

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:5-12

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 27:9-10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 27:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 27:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 27:9

Group of Brands