I Samuel 27
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Commentaries
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I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul - This was a very hasty conclusion: God had so often interposed in behalf of his life, that he was authorized to believe the reverse. God had hitherto confounded all Saul's stratagems, and it was not at all likely that he would now abandon him: there was now no additional reason why he should withdraw from David his helping hand.
Open source ↗SAUL HEARING THAT DAVID WAS FLED TO GATH, SEEKS NO MORE FOR HIM. (Sa1 27:1-4) David said in his heart, . . . there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines--This resolution of David's was, in every respect, wrong: (1) It was removing him from the place where the divine oracle intimated him to remain (Sa1 22:5); (2) It was rushing into the idolatrous land, for driving him into which he had denounced an imprecation on his enemies (Sa1 26:19); (3) It was a withdrawal of his counsel and aid from God's people. It was a movement, however, overruled by Providence to detach him from his country and to let the disasters impending over Saul and his followers be brought on by the Philistines.
Open source ↗And David said in his heart,.... Within himself, and to himself; while he was pondering things in his own mind, and considering the circumstances in which he was, and things appearing, very gloomy to him, he falls into a fit of unbelief and thus addresses himself: I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul; for though he was returned to his place, he knew he was restless and uneasy, very inconstant and unstable, and not at all to be depended on; yea, he might conclude that Saul, observing that God was with him in protecting and defending him, and by delivering him into his hands once and again, he would be the more jealous of him, and envious at him, and seek all opportunities and advantages against him; and he feared that one time or another such would offer, and would be taken, and so he should perish by him: this was a strange fit of unbelief he was sunk into, and very unaccountable and unreasonable it was, had he but considered his being anointed king by the Lord, the promise of God to him, which could not fail, and the providence of God that watched over him from time to time: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; which may seem strange, when he was advised by the Prophet Gad to depart from the land of Moab, and go into the land of Judah, Sa1 22:5, and where he had been so wonderfully preserved; and when he was in so much danger, when in the land of the Philistines before, insomuch that he was obliged to feign himself mad, Sa1 21:13; and seeing this also was the very thing he lately dreaded, and cursed the men that should be the cause of his going out of his own land into an idolatrous one: and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel; hearing that he was gone into a forei…
Open source ↗The result of the last affair with Saul, after his life had again been spared, could not fail to confirm David in his conviction that Saul would not desist from pursuing him, and that if he stayed any longer in the land, he would fall eventually into the hands of his enemy. With this conviction, he formed the following resolution: "Now shall I be consumed one day by the hand of Saul: there is no good to me (i.e., it will not be well with me if I remain in the land), but (כּי after a negative) I will flee into the land of the Philistines; so will Saul desist from me to seek me further (i.e., give up seeking me) in the whole of the territory of Israel, and I shall escape his hand." Sa1 27:2 Accordingly he went over with the 600 men who were with him to Achish, the king of Gath. Achish, the son of Maoch, is in all probability the same person not only as the king Achish mentioned in Sa1 21:11, but also as Achish the son of Maachah (Kg1 2:39), since Maoch and Maachah are certainly only different forms of the same name; and a fifty years' reign, which we should have in that case to ascribe to Achish, it not impossible. Sa1 27:3-4 Achish allotted dwelling-places in his capital, Gath, for David and his wives, and for all his retinue; and Saul desisted from any further pursuit of David when he was informed of his flight to Gath. The Chethibh יוסף is apparently only a copyist's error for יסף. Sa1 27:5-6 In the capital of the kingdom, however, David felt cramped, and therefore entreated Achish to assign him one of the land (or provincial) towns to dwell in; whereupon he gave him Ziklag for that purpose. This town was given to the Simeonites in the time of Joshua (Jos 19:5), but was afterwards taken by the Philistines, probably not long before the time of David, and appears to have…
Open source ↗Here is, I. The prevalency of David's fear, which was the effect of the weakness of his faith (Sa1 27:1): He said to his heart (so it may be read), in his communings with it concerning his present condition, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. He represented to himself the restless rage and malice of Saul (who could not be wrought into a reconciliation) and the treachery of his own countrymen, witness that of the Ziphites, once and again; he looked upon his own forces, and observed how few they were, and that no recruits had come in to him for a great while, nor could he perceive that he got any ground; and hence, in a melancholy mood, he draws this dark conclusion: I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. But, O thou of little faith! wherefore dost thou doubt? Was he not anointed to be king? Did not that imply an assurance that he should be preserved to the kingdom? Though he had no reason to trust Saul's promises, had he not all the reason in the world to trust the promises of God? His experience of the particular care Providence took of him ought to have encouraged him. He that has delivered does and will. But unbelief is a sin that easily besets even good men. When without are fightings, within are fears, and it is a hard matter to get over them. Lord, increase our faith! II. The resolution he came to hereupon. Now that Saul had, for this time, returned to his place, he determined to take this opportunity of retiring into the Philistines' country. Consulting his own heart only, and not the ephod or the prophet, he concludes, There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines. Long trials are in danger of tiring the faith and patience even of very good men. Now, 1. Saul was an enemy to himself and his kin…
Open source ↗27:1-12 David fled to the Philistines to get away from Saul for good. Rather than killing Saul, David chose the dangerous life of a fugitive.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… סָפָה (çâphâh, H5595) — properly, to scrape (literally, to shave; but usually figuratively) together (i.e. to… אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… כִּי (kîy, H3588) — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often… מָלַט (mâlaṭ, H4422) — properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness);… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth יָאַשׁ (yâʼash, H2976) — to desist, i.e. (figuratively) to despond
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8337) — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אֲכִישׁ (ʼĂkîysh, H397) — Akish, a Philistine king בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מָעוֹךְ (Mâʻôwk, H4582) — Maok, a Philistine מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king גַּת (Gath, H1661) — Gath, a Philistine city
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… אֲכִישׁ (ʼĂkîysh, H397) — Akish, a Philistine king גַּת (Gath, H1661) — Gath, a Philistine city אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman אֲחִינֹעַם (ʼĂchîynôʻam, H293) — Achinoam, the name of two Israelitesses יִזְרְעֵאלִית (Yizrᵉʻêʼlîyth, H3159) — a Jezreelitess אֲבִיגַיִל (ʼĂbîygayil, H26) — Abigail or Abigal, the name of two Israelitesses כַּרְמְלִית (Karmᵉlîyth, H3762) — a Karmelitess or female inhabitant of Karmel נָבָל (Nâbâl, H5037) — Nabal, an Israelite
Open source ↗נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse בָּרַח (bârach, H1272) — to bolt, i.e. figuratively, to flee suddenly גַּת (Gath, H1661) — Gath, a Philistine city בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… יָסַף (yâçaph, H3254) — to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲכִישׁ (ʼĂkîysh, H397) — Akish, a Philistine king מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… חֵן (chên, H2580) — graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant מַמְלָכָה (mamlâkâh, H4467) — dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
Open source ↗אֲכִישׁ (ʼĂkîysh, H397) — Akish, a Philistine king נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) צִקְלַג (Tsiqlag, H6860) — Tsiklag or Tsikelag, a place in Palestine יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the…
Open source ↗מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, H4557) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… פָּשַׁט (pâshaṭ, H6584) — to spread out (i.e. deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e. unclothe,… גְּשׁוּרִי (Gᵉshûwrîy, H1651) — a Geshurite (also collectively) or inhabitants of Geshur גִּזְרִי (Gizrîy, H1511) — a Grizite (collectively) or member of a native tribe in Palestine עֲמָלֵקִי (ʻĂmâlêqîy, H6003) — an Amalekite (or collectively the Amalekites) or descendants of Amalek הֵנָּה (hênnâh, H2007) — themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation) עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שׁוּר (Shûwr, H7793) — Shur, a region of the Desert מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman חָיָה (châyâh, H2421) — to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);… חֲמוֹר (chămôwr, H2543) — a male ass (from its dun red) גָּמָל (gâmâl, H1581) — a camel בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗אֲכִישׁ (ʼĂkîysh, H397) — Akish, a Philistine king אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אַל (ʼal, H408) — not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing פָּשַׁט (pâshaṭ, H6584) — to spread out (i.e. deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e. unclothe,… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse נֶגֶב (negeb, H5045) — the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah,… יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… יְרַחְמְאֵלִי (Yᵉrachmᵉʼêlîy, H3397) — a Jerachmeelite or descendant of Jerachmeel קֵינִי (Qêynîy, H7017) — a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse חָיָה (châyâh, H2421) — to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) גַּת (Gath, H1661) — Gath, a Philistine city אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
Open source ↗אֲכִישׁ (ʼĂkîysh, H397) — Akish, a Philistine king אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בָּאַשׁ (bâʼash, H887) — to smell bad; figuratively, to be offensive morally עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
In my alarm I said, “All men are liars!”
Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel,
Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”