8<\/strong>. And David said<\/em>, &c.] A hypocritical answer, designed to confirm Achish in the belief of his fidelity. Compare David’s previous conduct (ch. 1Sa 27:10-12<\/span>). But David can scarcely have intended to fight against his countrymen, and must have inwardly rejoiced that God had delivered him out of so perplexing a dilemma.<\/p>\n See 1Sa 29:10<\/span> note.<\/P> <\/p>\n Verse 8<\/span>. David said – what have I done?<\/B><\/I>] Dr. Chandler and others may say what they will to make David act a consistent<\/I> part in this business; but it is most evident, whatever his intentions<\/I> might be as to the part he was to take in the approaching battle, he did intend to persuade Achish that he would fight against Israel<\/I>; and affects to feel his reputation injured by not being permitted on this occasion to show his fidelity to the king of Gath.<\/P> <\/P> It was in the order of God’s gracious providence that the Philistine lords refused to let David go with them to this battle. Had he gone, he had his choice of two sins – First<\/I>, If he had fought for<\/I> the Philistines<\/I>, he would have fought against God<\/I> and his country<\/I>. Secondly<\/I> If he had in the battle gone over to the<\/I> Israelites<\/I>, he would have deceived and become a traitor<\/I> to the hospitable Achish. God, therefore, so ordered it in his mercy that he was not permitted to go to a battle in which he was sure to be disgraced, whatever side he took, or with what success soever he might be crowned.<\/P> <\/p>\n 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 Judah, where God had placed him, 1Sa 22:5<\/span>, and promised him protection, and putting himself into the hands of the Philistines. <\/P> <\/p>\n And David said unto Achish, what have I done<\/strong>?…. 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:<\/p>\n and what hast thou found in thy servant, so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king<\/strong>? which cannot be excused of great dissimulation, since nothing was more foreign from his heart, and against his will, than fighting against the Israelites, and which he determined to avoid if possible; and glad at heart he was to be thus excused, and freed from the straits and difficulties he was involved in; but that the Philistines might have no cause of suspicion of him, and that he was warmly attached to their interest among whom he was still to continue, he put on these airs. Abarbinel is of opinion that the lords of the Philistines were only afraid of David, but not of his men, and therefore were not solicitous about their going, but his, which gave David a concern; and since he was particularly singled out, he desired to know what special evil had been found in him; but when he understood, by the following answer of Achish, that his servants were to go with him, he was content, and said no more; but the princes asked, “what do these Hebrews here?” 1Sa 29:3<\/span>.<\/p>\n David Departs from Achish. 1Sa. 29:8-11<\/span><\/p>\n 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 fight against the enemies of my lord the king? 10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy masters servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart. 5.<\/p>\n Why did David protest? 1Sa. 29:8<\/span><\/p>\n David was playing the part to the hilt. His words are ambiguous, and he does not expect that Achish will be able to make any charge against him. As he said that he would go and fight against the enemies of his lord the king, he does not make the reference personal. He could have been saying that he would fight against the Philistines, since he was really still loyal to Saul. Achish in his gullibility, took the statement of David to be a declaration of allegiance to him and assured David still more earnestly that he was firmly convinced of his honesty and integrity.<\/p>\n 6.<\/p>\n Why did Achish compare David to an angel of God? 1Sa. 29:9<\/span><\/p>\n This idiom is used quite often by people who want to show their deep respect for others. The comparison of the king to an angel of God was made by the woman of Tekoah, who came up to see David at the invitation of Joab (2Sa. 14:17<\/span>; 2Sa. 14:20<\/span>). In the case of the Israelites they would look to their monarch as Gods vice-regent; but in the case of Achish, the idiom is probably no more than a way for him to say that he had the strongest conviction that David had behaved himself well. He was as faultless as an angel in the sight of Achish.<\/p>\n (8) And David said unto Achish, But what have I done?<\/strong>Davids words have a ring of falseness in them; he never contemplated fighting in the ranks against Israel, and yet he speaks thus. The generous confidence of the chivalrous Achish is here in painful contrast with the dissimulation of the Israelite chieftain, David.<\/p>\n It has been suggested that these suspicions of his loyalty on the part of the Philistine leaders had been aroused by David deliberately, in order to bring about his dismissal from the army in the field. This is possible, for the situation in which David now finds himself was most embarrassing from every point of view.<\/p>\n 8<\/strong>. <\/strong> David said unto Achish <\/strong> Whether David was really anxious to go into battle with the Philistines we have no means of clearly deciding. It is possible that, as the Philistine lords conjectured, he designed to reconcile himself unto Saul by treacherously fighting against Achish and his compeers, and so was much disappointed when he found this opportunity cut off by the suspicions of the lords. In this case, by my lord the king <\/strong> David would have meant Saul, though he knew that Achish would understand him differently. He who had so deliberately lied to the king of Gath on a former occasion (1Sa 27:10<\/span>) was none too good to betray his hospitality and kindness. But Divine Providence arranged for him a more excellent way.<\/p>\n 1Sa 29:8<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>And David saidwhat have I done? <\/em><\/strong>&c.<\/strong> Dr. Chandler observes, that “this answer was prudent, and such as became the circumstances in which he then stood; but promised nothing, and was only in general, that he never had given Achish any reason to suspect his gratitude and fidelity. He says nothing about fighting against Saul and the Hebrew army, but against the enemies of the king. <\/em>Against the king’s enemies, undoubtedly, he would have fought, where he could have done it consistently with his honour and duty; where he could not, whatever sense Achish might put upon David’s words, David would have refused to have fought against them. Upon the whole, it is certain, that there is not the least intimation, in any thing he said, that he would impiously turn his arms against his king and country, which neither his conscience, nor his interest, would permit him to do; and it is certain, that if he could maintain his fidelity to Achish, without lending his assistance to the destruction of his nation, he would have done it.” Dr. Delaney observes, “We may easily apprehend to what straits David was reduced, upon Achish’s insisting that he must go with him against Saul. He was now under a necessity of warring against his country, or betraying his benefactor. The alternative, indeed, was distressful; but it is easy to see how a man of honour must determine himself under it. His prince had banished and outlawed him, innocent as he was; and his people had joined in the sentence. Nevertheless, he continued, as long as he could, not to injure either, but even to be beneficent to both. David would have still been beneficent if he could, but the times would not let him; and therefore, when things were brought to such an extremity, that either he must fight against a people who had made him their enemy, or betray a prince who had protected him in distress, he had no choice left. He owed Achish allegiance; for protection exacts allegiance: but he owed Saul none; and there is no question but he was determined to pay his debt; and therefore I cannot help thus far crediting the account that Josephus gives us of this matter, that he promised Achish his aid, and assured him that he would take this occasion to requite his kindness the best he could. That he promised him unwillingly, I have no doubt; and I can have none that he promised him faithfully. See Psalms 7<\/span>. The man that could save Saul, could not betray Achish.” But, whatever were his purposes, it pleased God, very providentially, to deliver him from this great dilemma. <\/p>\n (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 fight against the enemies of my lord the king? (9) And Achish answered and said to David, I know that 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 battle. (10) Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master’s servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart. (11) So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Beside the motives here assigned for removing David from the army of the Philistines, it appears by the following chapter, that the Lord had services for him at that time elsewhere. Thus the Lord ordereth all our ways, and the whole disposing of his people is of the Lord. Though David seemed hurt at the not being permitted to go up to the battle, yet no doubt, as he had no direction for this purpose from the Lord, he could not be very forward to it. Indeed David was conscious that he was out of the path of duty. And perhaps this had made a shyness in his visits to a throne of grace. Reader! what is related in this chapter, and indeed the whole of David’s conduct, from the moment he took up the unbecoming thought, that he should one day perish by the hand of Saul, is not to David’s credit. We see in him what we feel in ourselves, and what the best of men do but too fully manifest, that there is a great deal of the old stock of nature, as well as the new springs of grace in God’s faithful servants. Much corruption mingled with much faith. Oh! how needful then is it, that the great author of faith should keep up his precious communications, to keep alive his grace in the soul! Sweetly David sung to this point, when he said: Hold thou me up and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. Psa 119:117<\/span> .<\/p>\n 1Sa 29:8 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 fight against the enemies of my lord the king?<\/p>\n Ver. 8. That I may not go fight against the enemies.<\/strong> ] This David pretended; but this he would not have done for any good: so that he evidently flattereth and glosseth with Achish. The best have their frailties, not a few: Nimis augusta res est, nuspiam errare.<\/p>\n with thee = before thee. <\/p>\n But what have: 1Sa 12:3, 1Sa 17:29, 1Sa 20:8, 1Sa 26:18 <\/p>\n with: Heb. before <\/p>\n that I may not: 1Sa 28:2, 2Sa 16:18, 2Sa 16:19, Psa 34:13, Psa 34:14, Mat 6:13<\/p>\n 1Sa 29:8. David said, But what have I done? This was deep dissimulation and flattery in David, no way to be justified. But who, that has not experienced it, can know how strong a temptation they who attend on great men are under to compliment them and dissemble. David, no doubt, heartily rejoiced at this dismission; but as he did not know how much longer he might be obliged to stay in the land of the Philistines, he seems to have yielded to a temptation that prudence required him to carry it fair toward them, and to pretend to have that concern upon this occasion which he certainly did not feel.<\/p>\n 29:8 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 {e} not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?<\/p>\n (e) This deception cannot be excused, for it grieved him to go against the people of God.<\/p>\n 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 fight against the enemies of my lord the king? 8. And David said, &c.] A hypocritical answer, designed to confirm Achish … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 29:8”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7987\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that 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 battle.<\/p>\n
11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.<\/p>\nFuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"