1 Samuel 29:3 Commentary and Bible Study

Here we read of God's first intervention. ‘Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here?’ The princes are wary of David and his men. They do not have the same trust in him that Achish has. Achish responds by trying to calm their concerns: ‘Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel?’ He means by this, not that David is still faithful to Saul; this is an abbreviated way of referring to the quarrel between David and Saul, which argues for David’s willingness to fight with the Philistines against his own former master. He has confirmed this, says Achish, by remaining loyal to me for days, and even years, and during that time he has never given any occasion to suspect him in any way – the Philistines have evidently not learned anything about the true nature of David’s raiding parties. But the other four lords of the Philistines are not at all convinced. In fact they are very angry with Achish for being so naive about the situation and exposing their people to danger, and not seeing that David could easily take the opportunity to turn on his new ‘friends’ and so reconcile himself to his estranged master, Saul. ‘Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men? ⁵ Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’ They are fierce in their response to Achish and he has to yield to his princes. They are well aware of David’s reputation in Israel as a warrior, and what could be worse than having a trecherous man in their ranks as they go to battle, ready to turn on them when they least expect it? So God has the lords of the Philistines reject David. He overrules so that they will not accept his services and his help; that’s the first part of David’s deliverance.