1 Samuel 29

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 29

How Saul, who was forsaken of God, when he was in a strait was more and more perplexed and embarrassed with his own counsels, we read in the foregoing chapter. In this chapter we find how David, who kept close to God, when he was in a strait was extricated and brought off by the providence of God, without any contrivance of his own. We have him, I. Marching with the Philistines, 1 Sam. 29:1, 2. II. Excepted against by the lords of the Philistines, 1 Sam. 29:3-5. III. Happily dismissed by... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 29:1-5

Here is, I. The great strait that David was in, which we may suppose he himself was aware of, though we read not of his asking advice from God, nor of any project of his own to get clear of it. The two armies of the Philistines and the Israelites were encamped and ready to engage, 1 Sam. 29:1. 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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 29:6-11

If the reasons Achish had to trust David were stronger than the reasons which the princes offered why they should distrust him (as I do not see that, in policy, they were, for the princes were certainly in the right), yet Achish was but one of five, though the chief, and the only one that had the title of king; accordingly, in a council of war held on this occasion, he was over-voted, and obliged to dismiss David, though he was extremely fond of him. Kings cannot always do as they would, nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 29

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 29 This chapter gives an account of David's going forth with the armies of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 29:1 ; of his being objected to by the princes of the Philistines, who insisted upon his being sent back, 1 Samuel 29:3 ; of the report Achish made of it to David, and the discourse that passed between them upon it, 1 Samuel 29:6 ; whereby David had a way unexpectedly opened for him to be freed from this service, which he gladly embraced, 1 Samuel 29:11 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 29:1

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek ,.... Not the city in the tribe of Judah of that name, Joshua 15:53 ; where the Philistines had a camp in the time of Samuel, 1 Samuel 4:1 ; but rather that in the tribe of Asher, Joshua 19:30 ; unless there was one of this name in the tribe of Issachar, not mentioned, since it seems to have been near Jezreel and Shunem, which were both in that tribe, Joshua 19:18 , and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 29:2

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands ,.... Not that there were so many lords, for there were but five of them; but these marched, some at the head of hundreds with them, and others at the head of thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish ; who being the generalissimo brought up the rear, and David, whom he had appointed captain of his bodyguards, attended him with his men, which in point of gratitude he could not refuse;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 29:3

Then said the princes of the Philistines ,.... To Achish; not those of the court of Achish, who were his subjects, but the confederate princes with him in this war, the lords of the other principalities, as appears by the freedom they took with him, 1 Samuel 29:4 , what do these Hebrews here ? or Jews, as the Targum; what hast thou to do with them, or they to be with thee? men of another nation and religion, and known enemies to the Philistines: and Achish said unto the princes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 29:4

And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him ,.... With Achish, for giving such a character of David, and taking his part, in order to detain him, if possible: and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, make this fellow return ; they speak of him with contempt, and insist on it that Achish order him to turn back, and go no further with them: that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him ; to Ziklag, the place that Achish had given him for his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 29:5

Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances ,.... Long ago: saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands ; so that he is an old sworn enemy of ours; and the more valiant and victorious he has been, the less is he to be trusted, see 1 Samuel 18:7 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 29:6

Then Achish called David ,.... Being so near him, that he could call unto him himself, or he sent some person to him, to require his presence with him: and said unto him, surely, as the Lord liveth ; or "Jehovah liveth"; an oath by the true God, of whom Achish might have some knowledge, as he also had of angels, from his conversation with David; though the Heathens had a notion of a supreme Being, and yet worshipped other gods, and whom they called Jove, from this name of Jehovah.... read more

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