Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 29

NOW the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek : and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

Either, that in the Tribe of Asher, Ios. 19. 24. 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.

2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David, and his men passed on the rereward with Achish .

i. e. As the Life-guard of Achish, as he had promised, chap. 28. 2. Achish being, as it seems, th[illegible: 1+ letters] General of the Army.

3 Then said the princes of the Philistines , What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years , and I have found no fault in him, since he fell unto me , unto this day.

The Lords of the other eminent Cities and Territories, who were confederate with him in this expedition.

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, chap. 27. 7. or because he was with me some Years ago, 1 Sam. 21. 10. and since that time hath been known to me. And it is not improbable, but David, after his escape from thence, might hold some correspondency with Achish, as finding him to be a Man of more generous temper than the rest of the Philistines, and supposing that he might have need of him for a Refuge in case Saul continued to seek his life.

i. e. Since he revolted, or left his own King to turn to me. For that sense Achish put upon this escape of David (as it is called chap. 27. 1.) and so is the Phrase of falling to a party, elsewhere used, Ier. 37. 13, 14.

Marginal references: Heb. nothing in him, Iohn 14. 30.

4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him , and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him , and let him not go down with us to battel, lest in the battel he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men ?

Were unsatisfied and offended with Achish for this intention and declaration.

Herein the Wi[illegible: 1+ letters]e 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 must either have been, or have been thought to be a Traitor, and an ungrateful unworthy person either to the one or to the other side; and moreover in giving him the happy opportunity of recovering his own, and his All from the Amalekites, which had been irrecoverably lost, if he had gone into this Battel. And the kindness of God to David was the greater, because it had been [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]ust for God to have left▪ David in all those Distresses into which his own sinful counsel and course had brought him.

i. e. Of these our Soldiers? They speak according to the rules of Reason and true Policy; for by this very course, great Enemies have sometimes been reconciled together.

Marginal references: 1 Chr. 12. 19.

6 ¶ Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth , thou hast been upright, and thy going out, and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my [illegible: 1+ letters]ight: for I have not found evil in thee, since the day of thy coming unto me , unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.

He Swears by Iehovah; either, because he did acknowledge their Iehovah 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 complaisance with David, that he might receive his unwelcome message to him with less offence; and partly, that this Oath might gain more credit to his words with David.

i. e. Thy whole conversation with me. See chap. 18. 13. and many other place where that Phrase is used.

Though before that time there was Evil in thee towards me and my people.

Marginal references: Heb. thou art not good in the eyes of the lords.

8 ¶ And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go to fight against the enemies of my lord the king ?

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. These perplexities he brought himself into by his irregular course, in forsaking the Land of Iudah, where God had placed him, chap. 22. 5. and promised him protection, and putting himself into the hands of the Philistines.

Marginal references: Heb. before thee.

9 And Achish answered, and said to David, I know thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God : notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battel.

In whom nothing is blame-worthy. Or, it may be used to express David's great wisdom; (as well as integrity) as 2 Sam. 14. 17. and 2 Sam. 19. 27. The Heathens acknowledged good Spirits, which also they worshiped as an inferior sort of Deities, who were Messengers and Ministers to the Supreme God; onely Achish had learned the title of Angels, from the Israelites his Neighbours, and especially from David's conversation.

10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning, with thy masters servants that are come with thee: and assoon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart .

He intimates the ground of the Philistines jealousie 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 them Fight, especially with, and for the Philistines.

Before the Battel begin, lest, if you delay, the Lords of the Philistines fall upon you, and destroy you.