THE PHILISTINES REJECT DAVID
A. The Philistine rulers object to David's presence among the Philistine army
1. (1 Sam 29:1-3) Achish defends David before the Philistine leaders
Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel. And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish. Then the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is this not 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 from the day he deserted to me to this day?"
Now the Philistines: The narrative of 1 Samuel 28:1-2 is resumes with a further description of the armies before the battle.
Aphek: The name Aphek was a common one and was given to several places in Israel. It signifies a fort of a stronghold. This Aphek was most likely situated in the Plain of Jezreel, perhaps in the neighborhood of En-dor.
The spring which is in Jezreel: This was probably the present-day Ain-Jalud, which translates as the Fountain of Goliath. It was traditionally regarded as the scene of David and Goliath's famous battle. It is located less than two miles southeast of Zerin. It is a very large fountain, flowing out from a cavern, which forms the base of Mount Gilboa. It spreads out into a pool about 40-50 feet in diameter. A stream large enough to turn a mill flows eastward down the valley.
And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by: The orderly advance of this great military nation is described. The word "lords" is a different term used than the word "princes". There were five princes who ruled over Philistia. Achish was the prince over Gath. Beneath the princes were other chieftains (i.e., "lords") who has great control over the princes.
David and his men: David, in return for Ziklag and the surrounding land given to him by the prince of Gath, seems to have owed military service to Achish. Besides David's notable appearance, the rest of David's men were probably easily recognizable due to their different military attire and weaponry.
David is among the Philistines because when he was discouraged, he left the people of God and the land of Israel, and he cast his lot with the Philistines instead (1 Samuel 27). David now finds himself in a place he should never have been--among the ungodly and ready to fight against God and His people.
What are these Hebrews doing here: The Philistine leaders could see what David was blind to. David started to think and act like a Philistine, and he was ready to fight with them against the people of God. But, the Philistine leaders could see that this was not right, even when David could not see it. The Philistine leaders knew who David really was. He was a Hebrew and part of God's people. David seems to have forgotten this, but the Philistine leaders knew this well. David would have never slipped into this sinful place if he had remembered who he was and the destiny God promised him.
These days or rather these years: This expression used is one which emphasizes the length of time David and his men have been with Achish. Achish was stressing the length of time David and his men's long standing relationship with Achish, which was conducted with the utmost fidelity to Achish.
I have found no fault in him: It is a sad thing to have a Philistine ruler defend David so confidently. David identified himself so much with the ungodly that Achish knew he had David in his pocket. Hearing these words from Achish should have grieved David. To hear a pagan leader say, "David has been with me" and "I have found no fault in him" and "he deserted to me" should have been a wake-up call to David. It is as if a non-believing coworker insisted to others that you were not a Christian because they saw how you lived your life in a godless fashion.
Moreover, it is important to note that Achish was not making this up and had reason to believe David would fight with him. David said as much in 1 Samuel 28:1-2, "Now it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, 'Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.' David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." So Achish said to David, 'Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.'"
2. (1 Sam 29:4-5) The Philistine leaders reject David
But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Make the man go back, that he may return to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, or in battle he may become an adversary to us. For with what could this man make himself acceptable to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men? Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
Would it not be with the heads of these lords: That is, of the Philistines. The Philistine commanders reasoned wisely that David and his men would turn in battle against the Philistines. It is highly likely that it was God suggesting these thoughts into the Philistine commanders' minds. For by these means, David and his men were delivered from a great strait into which David had lead his men. There was no way out for David if the expedition would have continued. Either he would have had to fight against his own people or he would have had to break his alliance with the Philistines and ultimately kill the Philistines. By the same Providential incident, David was sent back in time to recover his wives and the wives and children of his men from the Amelekites, which would have been irrevocably lost had David gone to battle with the Philistines. Despite David's bad decisions, God delivers David from much harm.
Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances: The faith-filled victory over Goliath seems like a distant memory for the back-slidden David. But, the Philistines remember this well. The song of David's victories came back to haunt him.
B. David heads back to Ziklag
1. (1 Sam 29:6-7) Achish tells David to go home
Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords. Now therefore return and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines."
As the LORD lives: This seems a strange oath for an idolatrous prince to make use of, but it may have been the equivalent of the real oath of Achish. Another theory is Achish may have used the traditional oath formula of the Israelites to appeal to David, whom Achish looked upon to have been falsely injured by the Philistine lords.
Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords: David thought he could not be happy or at peace in the land of Israel (1 Samuel 27:1). Now, he finds that his Philistine friends will not accept him either. David, it seems, has no home. He is trying to live in both worlds, but ultimately, he has found no home or peace in either place.
No doubt, the Philistine rejection greatly stung David's pride. Not many people like rejection. But, God would use this rejection of the ungodly in David's life. Many people are hesitant to live openly for Christ Jesus because they are afraid of the rejection of the ungodly. How much better would it be to live our lives completely for the LORD, and to trust that if the ungoldy reject us, God will use it for good. In many ways, David was in the worse place for any believer in God. He had too much of the world in him to be at peace with God, and he had too much of the LORD in him to be at peace with the world. God spoke to David through this; David had to open his ears and hear God's message.
2. (1 Sam 29:8-10) David appeals to Achish
David said to Achish, "But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" But Achish replied to David, "I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us to the battle.' Now then arise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have arisen early in the morning and have light, depart."
David said to Achish, "But what have I done?": David's words seem to have a falseness to them, and again, David lies to Achish. It has been suggested that David deliberately aroused suspicion among the Philistine leaders in order to bring about his dismissal from the Philistine army. David needed to keep his loyalty act up in order to continue living in the Philistine city of Ziklag. However, David could not fight with the Philistines and kill his own people.
Like an angel of God: Again, this is a simile Achish may have borrowed from Hebrew thought in order to be courteous and respectful to David.
3. (1 Sam 29:11) David returns to Ziklag, and the Philistine army prepares to meet Saul
So David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
To return to the land of the Philistines: No doubt, David and his men rejoiced at their escaping the terrible alternative of either turning traitors to the kindly man who had so hospitably received them in their distress, or of appearing in arms with the Philistines when they came into battle with Saul and the Israelites.
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