1 Samuel 29 Study Notes: The Philistines Send David Back
As the Philistine army gathers at Aphek, its commanders object to David marching with them, fearing he will turn on them in battle to win back Saul's favor. Achish praises David's loyalty but sends him and his men home, so David is kept out of the fight against Israel.
General
True or False: Achish told David that he had found nothing wrong in him since the day he arrived.
Answer: True
This is true. Achish summoned David, swore by the LORD’s name that David had been upright, and said he had found nothing wrong in him since his arrival (29:6). He even compared David, in how pleasing he was to Achish, to a heavenly messenger of God (29:9). Yet he had to send David back because the other Philistine leaders did not approve of him. Achish’s confidence rested partly on David’s false reports about his raids (27:10, 12), so Achish’s warm praise is sincere but mistaken.
- 1 Samuel 29:6 (BSB)“So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders.”Achish swears that David has been upright, but tells him the Philistine leaders do not approve of him.
- 1 Samuel 29:9 (BSB)“Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’”Achish compares David to an angel of God in his sight, yet repeats the commanders’ refusal.
- 1 Samuel 27:12 (BSB)“So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.””Achish’s high opinion rested on his belief that David had made himself hated in Israel.
- 1 Samuel 27:10 (BSB)“who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.””Achish’s trust had been built on David’s false reports about his raids.
Theological
True or False: Achish declared that he had found nothing blameworthy in David since David first came to him.
Answer: True
This is true. Swearing by the LORD’s life, Achish affirmed David’s uprightness and declared him blameless from his arrival to that day (29:6), even likening him in his eyes to a messenger from God (29:9). He nonetheless dismissed him in deference to the Philistine lords. Achish’s assessment rests in part on David’s deceptive reports (27:10, 12): the praise is sincere, but it is misinformed.
- 1 Samuel 29:6 (BSB)“So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders.”Achish swears that David has been upright, but tells him the Philistine leaders do not approve of him.
- 1 Samuel 29:9 (BSB)“Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’”Achish compares David to an angel of God in his sight, yet repeats the commanders’ refusal.
- 1 Samuel 27:12 (BSB)“So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.””Achish’s high opinion rested on his belief that David had made himself hated in Israel.
- 1 Samuel 27:10 (BSB)“who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.””Achish’s trust had been built on David’s false reports about his raids.
General
Why did the Philistine commanders insist that David be sent back before the battle (1 Samuel 29:4)?
Answer: They feared he would turn against them to win back Saul’s favor
As the Philistine army assembled at Aphek, the commanders noticed David’s band marching at the rear with Achish and asked what these Hebrews were doing there (29:1-3). Achish defended David, saying he had found nothing wrong in him since he came over (29:3). But the commanders were angry. They feared that in the middle of the fighting David would switch sides and regain Saul’s favor at their expense (29:4). Their worry was not unreasonable: in an earlier battle, Hebrews serving with the Philistines had gone over to Israel’s side (14:21). Chronicles also remembers that the Philistine rulers sent David away for this reason (1 Chronicles 12:19).
- 1 Samuel 29:3 (BSB)“Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.””The Philistine commanders question the presence of David’s men, and Achish defends David.
- 1 Samuel 29:4 (BSB)“But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?”The commanders angrily demand that David be sent back, fearing he will turn on them in battle.
- 1 Chronicles 12:19 (BSB)“Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”)”Chronicles records that the Philistine rulers sent David away for fear he would defect to Saul.
- 1 Samuel 14:21 (BSB)“And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.”In an earlier battle, Hebrews who had been with the Philistines switched sides to join Israel.
Theological
What concern led the Philistine commanders to demand David’s dismissal (1 Samuel 29:4)?
Answer: They feared he would turn against them to win back Saul’s favor
Seeing David’s company in the Philistine rear guard at Aphek, the commanders challenged Achish about these Hebrews (29:1-3). Achish vouched for David’s record (29:3), but the commanders angrily insisted he be sent back, fearing he would become their adversary mid-battle and buy reconciliation with Saul at their cost (29:4). The fear had precedent: Hebrews attached to the Philistine camp had defected to Israel once before (14:21). The Chronicler likewise reports that the Philistine rulers dismissed David lest he desert to Saul (1 Chronicles 12:19).
- 1 Samuel 29:3 (BSB)“Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.””The Philistine commanders question the presence of David’s men, and Achish defends David.
- 1 Samuel 29:4 (BSB)“But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?”The commanders angrily demand that David be sent back, fearing he will turn on them in battle.
- 1 Chronicles 12:19 (BSB)“Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”)”Chronicles records that the Philistine rulers sent David away for fear he would defect to Saul.
- 1 Samuel 14:21 (BSB)“And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.”In an earlier battle, Hebrews who had been with the Philistines switched sides to join Israel.
General
What did David’s company do after Achish dismissed them (1 Samuel 29:10-11)?
Answer: They rose early and headed back toward Philistine country
Achish told David to get up early and leave at first light, and David’s men did so, heading back into Philistine territory, while the Philistine army moved on to Jezreel to fight Israel (29:10-11). So David was kept out of the battle in which Saul would die, without having to fight against his own people. The chapter does not say that God arranged this, but Scripture teaches that the LORD directs the decisions of rulers (Proverbs 21:1) and that His purpose stands over every human plan (Proverbs 19:21). The timing also mattered: David’s return brought him to Ziklag just after it had been raided (30:1).
- 1 Samuel 29:10-11 (BSB)“Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.” So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.”David and his men leave early in the morning for Philistine territory, while the Philistines move up to Jezreel.
- Proverbs 21:1 (BSB)“The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.”The LORD directs the decisions of rulers wherever He pleases.
- Proverbs 19:21 (BSB)“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.”Human plans abound, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
- 1 Samuel 30:1 (BSB)“On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down.”On returning to Ziklag, David finds that the Amalekites have raided and burned it.
Theological
What course did David’s company take after being dismissed by Achish (1 Samuel 29:10-11)?
Answer: They rose early and headed back toward Philistine country
At Achish’s instruction David’s men rose early and set out at daybreak for Philistine territory, while the Philistine army advanced to Jezreel (29:10-11). David was thereby removed from the battle that would claim Saul’s life, without having to raise his hand against Israel. The chapter does not say that God arranged this, but Scripture elsewhere teaches that the LORD turns rulers’ decisions as He wills (Proverbs 21:1) and that His purpose prevails over human plans (Proverbs 19:21). The return also brought David to Ziklag just after the Amalekite raid (30:1), setting up chapter 30.
- 1 Samuel 29:10-11 (BSB)“Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.” So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.”David and his men leave early in the morning for Philistine territory, while the Philistines move up to Jezreel.
- Proverbs 21:1 (BSB)“The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.”The LORD directs the decisions of rulers wherever He pleases.
- Proverbs 19:21 (BSB)“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.”Human plans abound, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
- 1 Samuel 30:1 (BSB)“On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down.”On returning to Ziklag, David finds that the Amalekites have raided and burned it.
General
How did David respond when Achish told him to go back (1 Samuel 29:8)?
Answer: He asked what wrong he had done to be kept from the fight
David protested. He asked what wrong Achish had found in him, that he should be barred from fighting the foes of the one he called his lord the king (29:8). The words are ambiguous. To Achish, that title would mean Achish himself, but it could also point to Saul, whom David had earlier called his master and the LORD’s anointed (24:6). The text does not tell us what David intended, just as his earlier reply to Achish left his plans unstated (28:2). What the text does show is that David was not forced to choose: he was sent away before the battle began.
- 1 Samuel 29:8 (BSB)““But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?””David asks what he has done to be kept from fighting the enemies of his lord the king.
- 1 Samuel 28:2 (BSB)“David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.””David’s earlier answer to Achish had also left his true intentions unstated.
- 1 Samuel 24:6 (BSB)“So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.””David had refused to harm Saul, calling him his master and the LORD’s anointed.
Theological
What objection did David raise to being sent away from the battle (1 Samuel 29:8)?
Answer: He asked what wrong he had done to be kept from the fight
David objected, asking what fault Achish had found in him that he should be barred from fighting the foes of his lord the king (29:8). The title is pointedly ambiguous: Achish would hear a reference to himself, yet David had elsewhere called Saul his master and the LORD’s anointed (24:6). The narrator does not reveal David’s intent, consistent with the studied vagueness of 28:2. What the narrative makes plain is that David is extracted from the dilemma before it can be tested.
- 1 Samuel 29:8 (BSB)““But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?””David asks what he has done to be kept from fighting the enemies of his lord the king.
- 1 Samuel 28:2 (BSB)“David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.””David’s earlier answer to Achish had also left his true intentions unstated.
- 1 Samuel 24:6 (BSB)“So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.””David had refused to harm Saul, calling him his master and the LORD’s anointed.
General
What did the commanders recall to prove that David was dangerous to them (1 Samuel 29:5)?
Answer: The dance song crediting David with ten times Saul’s victories
The commanders reminded Achish of the song Israel had sung in its dances, which gave Saul credit for thousands of slain enemies and David for tens of thousands (29:5). That song was first sung by the women of Israel after David killed the Philistine champion Goliath (18:6-7), and it had already been quoted by Achish’s own servants when David first fled to Gath and pretended to be mad (21:11). The song showed that David’s fame had been built on killing Philistines, which is exactly why the commanders did not want him beside them in battle.
- 1 Samuel 29:5 (BSB)“Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?””The commanders recall the song sung about David’s victories compared with Saul’s.
- 1 Samuel 18:6-7 (BSB)“As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.””The song was first sung by Israelite women as the troops returned after David killed the Philistine champion.
- 1 Samuel 21:11 (BSB)“But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?””Achish’s servants had already cited the same song when David first came to Gath.
Theological
Which piece of David’s past did the Philistine commanders invoke against him (1 Samuel 29:5)?
Answer: The dance song crediting David with ten times Saul’s victories
The commanders cited the victory song from Israel’s dances that ascribed thousands of slain to Saul and tens of thousands to David (29:5). The song originated with the women who celebrated David’s killing of the Philistine champion (18:6-7), and Achish’s servants had invoked it on David’s earlier, brief visit to Gath, when he feigned madness (21:11). It encapsulated a reputation built on Philistine dead, and so made David an impossible ally in the eyes of the commanders.
- 1 Samuel 29:5 (BSB)“Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?””The commanders recall the song sung about David’s victories compared with Saul’s.
- 1 Samuel 18:6-7 (BSB)“As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.””The song was first sung by Israelite women as the troops returned after David killed the Philistine champion.
- 1 Samuel 21:11 (BSB)“But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?””Achish’s servants had already cited the same song when David first came to Gath.