1 Samuel 29

1Sa 29:1-5.

DAVID

MARCHING WITH THE

PHILISTINES TO

FIGHT WITH

ISRAEL.

1. Aphek--

(Jos 12:8),

in the tribe of Issachar, and in the plain of Esdraelon. A person who

compares the Bible account of Saul's last battle with the Philistines,

with the region around Gilboa, has the same sort of evidence that the

account relates what is true, that a person would have that such a

battle as Waterloo really took place. Gilboa, Jezreel, Shunem, En-dor,

are all found, still bearing the same names. They lie within sight of

each other. Aphek is the only one of the cluster not yet identified.

Jezreel on the northern slope of Gilboa, and at the distance of twenty

minutes to the east, is a large fountain, and a smaller one still

nearer; just the position which a chieftain would select, both on

account of its elevation and the supply of water needed for his troops

[HACKETT, Scripture Illustrated].

2. David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish--as the

commander of the lifeguards of Achish, who was general of this invading

army of the Philistines.

3. these days, or these years--He had now been with the Philistines

a full year and four months

(1Sa 27:7),

and also some years before. It has been thought that David kept up a

private correspondence with this Philistine prince, either on account

of his native generosity, or in the anticipation that an asylum in his

territories would sooner or later be needed.

4. the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him--It must be

considered a happy circumstance in the overruling providence of God to

rescue David out of the dangerous dilemma in which he was now placed.

But David is not free from censure in his professions to Achish

(1Sa 29:8),

to do what he probably had not the smallest purpose of doing--of

fighting with Achish against his enemies. It is just an instance of the

unhappy consequences into which a false step--a departure from the

straight course of duty--will betray everyone who commits it.

9. notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said--The

Philistine government had constitutional checks--or at least the king

was not an absolute sovereign; but his authority was limited--his

proceedings liable to be controlled by "the powerful barons of that

rude and early period--much as the kings of Europe in the Middle Ages

were by the proud and lawless aristocracy which surrounded them"

[CHALMERS].