1David marcheth with the Philistines: their princes are offended therewith. 6Achish dismisseth him with commendations of his fidelity.
1NOW the Philistines gathered together all their armies to 1Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in 2Jezreel.
1 There were several cities in the land of Canaan called Aphek. First, there is one in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:53; second, another in the tribe of Asher, Judges 1:31; third, in the tribe of Issachar, by mount Gilboa, by the great field of Megiddo, of which this here may be understood.
2 This was a fair city on the borders of the tribe of Issachar and Manasseh, Joshua 19:18, situated at the foot of mount Gilboa.
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, 3What 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 4these years, and I have found 5no fault in him since he 6fell unto me unto this day?
3 Or, To what purpose are these Hebrews here?
4 It was now in the second year that David had dwelt in Ziklag, see 1 Sam. 27:7, and before that time he had been also a long while at Gath with Achish.
5 Namely, no evil or any disloyalty.
6 Namely, from his lord Saul, who is mine enemy. Other, deserted unto me.
4And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Makea this fellow 7return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, 8lest in the battle he be 9an adversary to us: for wherewith should he 10reconcile himself unto his master? 11should it not be with the heads of these men?
a 1 Chron. 12:19.
7 Other, turn about.
8 Namely, as heretofore many Hebrews have done, who fell off from us to Jonathan, 1 Sam. 14:21.
9 See the annotation on Job 1:6.
10 That is, reconcile himself unto his lord.
11 Namely, by delivering us up into the hands of Saul, revolting in the fight, and turning his sword upon our men.
5Is not this David, of whom they sang oneb to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
b 1 Sam. 18:7.
6¶Then Achish called David, and said unto him, 12Surely, as the LORD liveth, 13thou hast been upright, and 14thy 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 15favour thee not.
12 Although Achish was an idolater, yet he swears by Jehovah the true God. The Philistines indeed had experienced the power of the true God, when the ark of the covenant was among them, 1 Samuel 5. It is also possible that Achish, by conversing long with David, attained to some knowledge of the true God.
13 That is, I take you to be an upright and faithful servant.
14 That is, your conduct and behavior; your ordering and managing of affairs pleases me very well. See Num. 27:17.
15 Hebr. good, that is, prefer thee not.
7Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8¶And David said unto Achish, 16But 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?
16 David does not give in any way the impression, but that he was very willing and zealous to go and fight against Israel, the people of God. Yet, what was his intent and purpose was known by the LORD.
9And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art 17good in my sight, as 18an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
17 Or, pleasant. Hebr. good.
18 Achish, though an heathen, acknowledges that there are good angels.
10Wherefore now rise up 19early 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.
19 Namely, before the battle begins.
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.