Reflections on 1 Samuel 29

1 Samuel 29 (Contemporary English Version)

1. The Philistines had brought their whole army to Aphek, while Israel's army was camping near Jezreel Spring.
   
2. The Philistine rulers and their troops were marching past the Philistine army commanders in groups of a hundred and a thousand. When David and his men marched by at the end with Achish, the commanders said, "What are these worthless Israelites doing here?" "They are David's men," Achish answered. "David used to be one of Saul's officers, but he left Saul and joined my army a long time ago. I've never had even one complaint about him."
   
3. (SEE 29:2)
   
4. The Philistine army commanders were angry and shouted: Send David back to the town you gave him. We won't have him going into the battle with us. He could turn and fight against us! Saul would take David back as an officer if David brought him the heads of our soldiers.
   
5. The Israelites even dance and sing, "Saul has killed a thousand enemies; David has killed ten thousand enemies!"
   
6. Achish called David over and said: I swear by the living LORD that you've been honest with me, and I want you to fight by my side. I don't think you've done anything wrong from the day you joined me until this very moment. But the other Philistine rulers don't want you to come along.
   
7. Go on back home and try not to upset them.
   
8. "But what have I done?" David asked. "Do you know of anything I've ever done that would keep me from fighting the enemies of my king?"
   
9. Achish said: I believe that you're as good as an angel of God, but our army commanders have decided that you can't fight in this battle.
   
10. You and your troops will have to go back to the town I gave you. Get up and leave tomorrow morning as soon as it's light. I am pleased with you, so don't let any of this bother you.
    
11. David and his men got up early in the morning and headed back toward Philistia, while the Philistines left for Jezreel.
    

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    David was in an awkward position. He had been told by the Philistine king that he and his men were to fight alongside the Philistine troops against Israel and king Saul. David was no doubt playing the part of a loyal Philistine subject when he replied to king Achish, "Good, you will find out what your servant can do." (28:2) What would David have done? Would he have fought against his own people, the Israelites, or turned against the Philistines in the heat of battle? As persistent as David had been not to harm God's anointed, king Saul, it would be inconsistent for him to have actually fought against king Saul.
    
    God intervened, however, and spared David this difficult situation. The Philistine commanders were not at all happy about having these Hebrews, David and his men, among their ranks while they fought the Hebrews. Out voted by his commanders, king Achish summoned David and sent him back to his home at Ziklag. David made a feeble protest at this order but obeyed without further protest. It is difficult to believe David meant what he said to king Achish: "what have you found against your servant to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" It was "my lord the king" against whom David had previously refused to fight against. It is highly unlikely his sentiment in this regard had changed. This is confirmed in the first chapter of 2 Samuel in David's reaction to news of Saul's death.