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1 Samuel 29

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1Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel.

2The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.

3Then the princes of the Philistines said, "What about these Hebrews?" Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, "Isn't this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away to this day?"

4But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; and the princes of the Philistines said to him, "Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where you have appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For with what should this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Should it not be with the heads of these men?

5Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands?'"

6Then Achish called David, and said to him, "As Yahweh lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords don't favor you.

7Therefore now return, and go in peace, that you not displease the lords of the Philistines."

8David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

9Achish answered David, "I know that you are 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 battle.'

10Therefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you; and as soon as you are up early in the morning, and have light, depart."

11So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. The Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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1 Samuel 29:1-5 Verses 1-5

David waited with a secret hope that the Lord would help him out of his difficulty. But he seems to have been influenced too much by the fear of man, in consenting to attend Achish. It is hard to come near to the brink of sin, and not to fall in. God inclined the princes of the Philistines to oppose David's being employed in the battle. Thus their dislike befriended him, when no friend could do him such a kindness.

1 Samuel 29:6-11 Verses 6-11

David scarcely ever had a greater deliverance than when dismissed from such insnaring service. God's people should always behave themselves so, as, if possible, to get the good word of all they have dealings with: and it is due to those who have acted well, to speak well of them.

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Achish: David Escapes To 1 Samuel 29:1

Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

Hebrew: Applied to And his Descendants 1 Samuel 29:3

Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

Integrity: David, in his Conduct While in Refuge with the Philistines 1 Samuel 29:1–11

Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. / As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. / Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

Philistines: Kings of Achish 1 Samuel 29:1

Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

Philistines: Lords of 1 Samuel 29:2, 6, 7

As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. / So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders. / Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”

The Philistines: David: Distrusted By 1 Samuel 29:2–7

As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. / Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.” / But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?

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