1 Sam. 29 David marching with the Philistines, is disallowed by their princes: Achish pleadeth for him and against his will dismisseth him, 1 Sam. 29:1–7. He expostulateth with Achish, 1 Sam. 29:8, his answer, 1 Sam. 29:9–10. David departeth, 1 Sam. 29:11.

Aphek; either, that in the tribe of Asher, Josh. 19:30, or rather another town of that name in Issachar, though not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture; this being the case of many places, to be but once named.

i.e. As the life-guard of Achish, as he had promised, 1 Sam. 28:2, Achish being, as it seems, the general of the army.

The princes of the Philistines; the lords of the other eminent cities and territories, who were confederate with him in this expedition. These days, or these years: q.d. Did I say days? I might have said years; either because he hath now been with me a full year and four months, 1 Sam.

Were wroth with him; were unsatisfied and offended with Achish for this intention and declaration. Make this fellow return: herein the wise and gracious providence of God appeared, both in helping him out of those snares and difficulties, out of which no human wit could have extricated him, but he…

As the Lord liveth; he swears by Jehovah; either because he did acknowledge their Jehovah to be a God, being, it may be, convinced and instructed therein by David, though he did worship Dagon with him, and above him: or because this was David’s God, and therefore he swore by him; partly out of…

This was deep dissimulation and flattery; but he apprehended it necessary, lest he should tacitly confess himself guilty of that whereof they accused him, and thereby expose himself to the utmost hazards.

As an angel of God, in whom nothing is blameworthy. Or it may be used to express David’s great wisdom (as well as integrity); as 2 Sam. 14:17, 2 Sam. 19:27.

With thy master’s servants; he intimates the ground of the Philistines’ jealousy concerning David and his men, that they were all servants of Saul, and therefore had an obligation, and were suspected to have an affection, to their old lord and master, against whom even David himself could not make…