Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 27

Introduction

Overview

1 Samuel 27:1, Saul, hearing David to be in Gath, seeks no more for him; 1 Samuel 27:5, David begs Ziklag of Achish; 1 Samuel 27:8, He, invading other countries, persuades Achish he fought against Judah.

Verse 1

am 2946, bc 1058, An, Ex, Is 433

And David: 1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Samuel 23:17, 1 Samuel 25:30, Psalms 116:11, Proverbs 13:12, Isaiah 40:27-31, Isaiah 51:12, Matthew 14:31, Mark 4:40, 2 Corinthians 7:5

I shall: This was a rash conclusion: God had caused him to be anointed king of Israel, and promised his accession to the throne, and had so often interposed in his behalf, that he was authorised to believe the very reverse.

perish: Heb. be consumed

there is nothing: 1 Samuel 22:5, Exodus 14:12, Numbers 14:3, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 3:6, Isaiah 30:15, Isaiah 30:16, Lamentations 3:26, Lamentations 3:27

into the land: 1 Samuel 27:10, 1 Samuel 27:11, 1 Samuel 21:10-15, 1 Samuel 28:1, 1 Samuel 28:2, 1 Samuel 29:2-11, 1 Samuel 30:1-3

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:12 - will kill Genesis 14:7 - Amalekites Genesis 19:19 - lest some Genesis 34:30 - and I shall Genesis 42:36 - all these things are against me Judges 15:18 - and fall 1 Samuel 20:3 - but truly 1 Samuel 23:14 - Saul 2 Samuel 22:1 - and out 1 Kings 12:26 - Now shall 1 Kings 19:3 - he arose 2 Kings 8:2 - land Psalms 11:1 - how Psalms 31:22 - I said Psalms 34:4 - from Psalms 55:7 - General Psalms 56:8 - tellest Psalms 142:4 - refuge Proverbs 24:10 - thou Proverbs 27:8 - man Proverbs 29:25 - fear Lamentations 3:18 - General Acts 25:11 - I appeal 2 Corinthians 1:8 - insomuch

Verse 2

David: This measure of David's, in uniting himself to the enemies of his God and people, was highly blameable; was calculated to alienate the affections of the Israelites; and led to equivocation, if not downright falsehood.

the six: 1 Samuel 25:13, 1 Samuel 30:8

Achish: 1 Samuel 21:10, 1 Kings 2:40

Reciprocal: Judges 11:3 - vain men 2 Samuel 2:3 - his men 1 Kings 2:39 - Achish 2 Kings 12:17 - against Gath 1 Chronicles 12:1 - these are

Verse 3

with his two: 1 Samuel 25:3, 1 Samuel 25:18-35, 1 Samuel 25:42, 1 Samuel 25:43, 1 Samuel 30:5

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 2:3 - his men 2 Samuel 15:18 - Gittites 1 Kings 2:39 - Achish 1 Chronicles 3:1 - Ahinoam

Verse 4

he sought: 1 Samuel 26:21

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:4 - of Gath 1 Chronicles 18:1 - Gath

Verse 5

some town: Genesis 46:34, 2 Corinthians 6:17

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:2 - the royal cities

Verse 6

Ziklag: Ziklag was at first given to the tribe of Judah, but was afterwards ceded to that of Simeon; but as it bordered on the Philistines, if they had ever been expelled, they had retaken it. Eusebius simply says it was situated in the south of Canaan. 1 Samuel 30:1, 1 Samuel 30:14, 1 Samuel 19:5, 2 Samuel 1:1, 1 Chronicles 4:30, 1 Chronicles 12:1, 1 Chronicles 12:20, Nehemiah 11:28

Reciprocal: Joshua 15:31 - Ziklag Joshua 19:5 - Ziklag

Verse 7

the time: Heb. the number of days

a full year: Heb. a year of days, 1 Samuel 29:3

Verse 8

am 2948, bc 1056, An, Ex, Is, 435

the Geshurites: Joshua 13:2, Joshua 13:13, 2 Samuel 13:37, 2 Samuel 13:38, 2 Samuel 14:23, 2 Samuel 14:32, 2 Samuel 15:8, 1 Chronicles 2:23

Gezrites: or, Gerzites, These people seem to be the Gerrhenians - 2; Mac 13:24 whose chief city, Gerrha, is mentioned by Strabo as lying between Gaza and Pelusium in Egypt.

the Amalekites: Joshua 16:10, Judges 1:29, 1 Kings 9:15-17

as thou goest: 1 Samuel 15:7, 1 Samuel 15:8, 1 Samuel 30:1, Exodus 17:14-16

Reciprocal: Numbers 24:20 - his latter end Deuteronomy 25:19 - thou shalt Joshua 12:5 - unto the 2 Samuel 1:8 - an Amalekite 2 Samuel 3:3 - Geshur 1 Chronicles 18:11 - Amalek

Verse 9

left neither: 1 Samuel 15:7, Genesis 16:7, Genesis 25:18, Exodus 15:22

and the camels: 1 Samuel 15:3, Deuteronomy 25:17-19, Joshua 6:21

Reciprocal: Exodus 17:14 - for I will Numbers 24:20 - his latter end Numbers 31:7 - all 2 Kings 9:15 - none go forth 1 Chronicles 18:11 - Amalek

Verse 10

Whither: etc. or, Did you not make a road

And David: 1 Samuel 21:2, Genesis 27:19, Genesis 27:20, Genesis 27:24, Joshua 2:4-6, 2 Samuel 17:20, Psalms 119:29, Psalms 119:163, Proverbs 29:25, Galatians 2:11-13, Ephesians 4:25

Against: David here meant the Geshurites, and Gezrites, and Amalekites, which people occupied that part of the country which lies to the south of Judah. But Achish, as was intended, understood him in a different sense, and believed that he had attacked his own countrymen. David's answer, therefore, though not an absolute falsehood, was certainly an equivocation intended to deceive, and therefore incompatible with that sense of truth and honour which became him as a prince, and a professor of true religion. From these, and similar passages, we may observe the strict impartiality of the Sacred Scriptures. They present us with the most faithful delineation of human nature; they exhibit the frailties of kings, priests, and prophets, with equal truth; and examples of vice and frailty, as well as of piety and virtue, are held up, that we may guard against the errors to which the best men are exposed.

the Jerahmeelites: 1 Chronicles 2:9, 1 Chronicles 2:25

Kenites: 1 Samuel 15:6, Numbers 24:21, Judges 1:16, Judges 4:11, Judges 5:24

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:1 - the south Judges 16:7 - If they bind 1 Samuel 27:1 - into the land 1 Samuel 28:2 - Surely 1 Samuel 30:29 - Jerahmeelites

Verse 11

Lest: 1 Samuel 22:22, Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 29:25

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 27:1 - into the land 1 Samuel 30:2 - slew not 2 Samuel 17:20 - They be gone Jeremiah 41:4 - after

Verse 12

utterly to abhor: Heb. to stink, 1 Samuel 13:4, Genesis 34:30

Reciprocal: Exodus 5:21 - to be abhorred Exodus 21:6 - for ever 1 Samuel 28:1 - thou shalt go 2 Samuel 10:6 - stank 2 Samuel 16:21 - then shall 2 Samuel 17:20 - They be gone 1 Chronicles 19:6 - odious