Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 29

Verses 1-11

David's sojourn with Achish resulted in his being compelled to join the Philistine army in its preparations to attack Israel.

It is perfectly natural that the Philistine lords protested against this arrangement. They were familiar with the song which had celebrated David's victories over them, and dared not trust him among them in the day of battle.

Achish seems to have formed high estimate of him, and a strong affection for him, but was compelled to yield to his lords in this matter. Therefore David was dismissed from the Philistine army.

It is perhaps idle to speculate what the result would have been had he remained. In all probability in the crisis he would have turned on those with whom he had fought.

This, however, was not God's purpose, and in the attitude and action of the Philistine lords we have another instance of the overruling of God in the affairs of men. Through it David was delivered from an entanglement into which he had brought himself in his excess of fear.