This chapter gives an account of David’s going forth with the armies of the Philistines, 1 Sam. 29:1, 1 Sam. 29:2; of his being objected to by the princes of the Philistines, who insisted upon his being sent back, 1 Sam.

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek Not the city in the tribe of Judah of that name, ; where the Philistines had a camp in the time of Samuel, ; but rather that in the tribe of Asher, ; unless there was one of this name in the tribe of Issachar, not mentioned, since it…

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands Not that there were so many lords, for there were but five of them; but these marched, some at the head of hundreds with them, and others at the head of thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish;…

Then said the princes of the Philistines To Achish; not those of the court of Achish, who were his subjects, but the confederate princes with him in this war, the lords of the other principalities, as appears by the freedom they took with him, ; what do these Hebrews here? or Jews, as the Targum;…

And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him With Achish, for giving such a character of David, and taking his part, in order to detain him, if possible: and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, make this fellow return; they speak of him with contempt, and insist on it that…

Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances Long ago: saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands; so that he is an old sworn enemy of ours; and the more valiant and victorious he has been, the less is he to be trusted, see .

Then Achish called David Being so near him, that he could call unto him himself, or he sent some person to him, to require his presence with him: and said unto him, surely, as the Lord liveth; or “Jehovah liveth”; an oath by the true God, of whom Achish might have some knowledge, as he also had of…

Wherefore now return To Ziklag: and go in peace; not only in a peaceable manner, easy and satisfied, as David was at his very heart to hear this, but all prosperity and happiness attend thee; the Jews [[12]] distinguish between wishing persons to go in peace, and to go to peace; the former they…

And David said unto Achish, what have I done? &c.] This question is anticipated by the speech of Achish, who had declared he had found no evil in him; but David must say something to put on an appearance of concern for being dismissed, when he was heartily glad of it: and what hast thou found in…

And Achish answered and said unto David In reply to the questions: I know that thou art good in my sight as an angel of God: for his great wisdom, and graceful behaviour, and inoffensive carriage: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, he shall not go up with us to the battle;…

Wherefore now rise up early with thy master’s servants that are come with thee Meaning his six hundred men, who were considered as the servants and subjects of Saul, though with David: and which tacitly carried in it the objection of the Philistine lords unto them, that since they were the servants…

So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, &c.] Being as willing and ready to go as the Philistines were desirous they should: to return into the land of the Philistines; for now they were in the land of Israel, at Aphek, near Jezreel, from whence they went back to Ziklag, which…