Ch. 1 Samuel 27:1-7. David’s flight to Achish, and residence at Ziklag

1. into the land of the Philistines] The result anticipated in 1 Samuel 26:19 has come to pass. David is forced to seek refuge in a heathen land. The circumstances of this flight are entirely different from those related in 1 Samuel 21:10 ff. Then the solitary fugitive, recognised as the slayer of Goliath, narrowly escaped losing his life; now the outlaw leader of a band of stalwart warriors is welcomed as an ally. He entered the king’s service as an independent chieftain, like an Italian Condottiere of the middle ages.

Traces of this residence at Gath may be observed in the attachment of Ittai the Gittite to David (2 Samuel 15:19); and possibly the Gittith, mentioned in the title to Psalms 8, was an instrument or a melody brought from Gath.

2. Achish, the son of Maoch] If he was the same as the Achish of 1 Samuel 21:10, and the Achish son of Maachah of 1 Kings 2:39, he must have reigned some fifty years. But more probably the same name was borne by different individuals.

3. every man with his household] Cp. ch. 1 Samuel 30:3 ff.; 2 Samuel 2:3.

5. in some town in the country] In one of the provincial cities as distinguished from the metropolis Gath.

why should thy servant dwell, &c.] He wished for a more independent position, where he might be less exposed to the jealousy of the Philistine lords, and have free opportunity for ruling and organizing his followers.

6. Ziklag] One of the cities In the Negeb or “South Country,” originally assigned to Judah (Joshua 15:31), but transferred to Simeon (Joshua 19:5), and either never occupied by them or reconquered by the Philistines. Its site has not been identified, but was probably somewhere W. or N. W. of Beersheba, next to which it is mentioned in Nehemiah 11:28.

Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day] This note from the hand of the compiler indicates that the book was composed after the separation of the kingdom of Judah from the kingdom of Israel, and before the Captivity. Ziklag was, so to speak, one of the crown estates of the royal house.

7. a full year and four months] The Sept. reading “four months” is improbable, though the Heb. might be rendered “a space of time, even four months.” Ch. 1 Samuel 29:3 implies a much longer residence. “In this city David laid the foundation of his kingdom. Here he could already rule with greater freedom and independence, collect fugitives and deserters around him in larger and larger numbers, send or receive embassies like a prince (1 Samuel 30:26-31), and as a ruler over soldiers and peaceable citizens rehearse, on a small scale, those arts by which he afterwards acquired and maintained his great kingdom.” Ewald, Hist. of Israel, III. 101. Here a band of archers and slingers from Saul’s own tribe joined him, together with men from the southern towns of Judah, and from Manasseh (1 Chronicles 12:1-7; 1 Chronicles 12:20-22).

8–12. David’s raids upon neighbouring tribes

8. the Geshurites] A tribe dwelling south of Philistia near the Amalekites (see Joshua 13:2), to be distinguished from the Geshurites in Syria (2 Samuel 15:8).

the Gezrites] These cannot be the inhabitants of Gezer (Joshua 10:33), which was far away from the scene of David’s operations. The written text (Kthîbh) as distinguished from the traditional reading (Qrî) has Gerzites. It has been conjectured that this was an ancient Arab tribe which at one time wandered up northwards and gave its name to Mount Gerizim; as their neighbours the Amalekites left traces of former migrations in the name “the mountain of the Amalekites” in the territory of Ephraim (Jdg 12:15).

the Amalekites] Such remnants of them as had escaped from Saul’s sword. See on 1 Samuel 15:8.

those nations were of old, &c.] If the text is right, the E. V. gives the general sense correctly. The allusion to their ancient occupation of the district may be inserted with reference to the Amalekite attack upon Israel in the march from Egypt (Exodus 17:8 ff.). But the Heb. is obscure, and possibly should be emended so as to give the sense, “for these nations inhabited the land from Telem until thou comest to Shur, and unto the land of Egypt.” Telem would be mentioned as the southernmost city of Israel. See on 1 Samuel 15:4.

9. the sheep, &c.] In which the wealth of nomad tribes consists. Cp. 1 Samuel 15:3, &c.; Job 1:3. “We rode through five large Arab camps, and every hill-side and valley was filled with thousands of sheep, goats, oxen, asses, and camels.” Tristram, Land of Israel, p. 532.

returned and came to Achish] After these expeditions he reported himself to Achish at Gath, and handed over to him the covenanted share of the plunder. It is to be inferred that Achish expected David to pay a kind of tribute, as well as to render personal service in war (1 Samuel 28:1).

10. Whither] The Heb. word does not mean whither, and must be emended. It is best to follow the Sept. and Vulg. in reading “against whom.”

have ye made a road] The same word as that translated “invaded” in 1 Samuel 27:8. “Road” means a plundering excursion or raid, from A.-S. râd, a riding. Compare the compound in-road. “Him hee named, who at that time was absent, making roades upon the Lacedemonians.” Sidney’s Arcadia.

the Jerahmeelites] Descendants of Jerahmeel the son of Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:9; 1 Chronicles 2:25), who were settled on the southern frontier of Judah, apparently as an independent tribe. Cp. 1 Samuel 30:29.

the Kenites] Who were in alliance with the Israelites. See on 1 Samuel 15:6.

11. And David said, &c.] The tribes which David really plundered must evidently have lived in the neighbourhood of the southern boundary of Judah, so that he could represent his expeditions as made against his own countrymen and their allies, not, as was the fact, against allies of the Philistines. David’s falsehoods are not of course to be judged by the Christian standard of morality.

to bring tidings to Gath] Rather, to bring them to Gath, as prisoners. Such barbarity was nothing strange at the time, and David did not rise above the practice of his contemporaries.

tell on us] “On” used as we now use “of” is common in Shakespeare: e.g. Macbeth, A. i. Sc. 3:

“Or have we eaten on the insane root

That takes the reason prisoner?”

and so will be his manner, &c.] Render, “and so was his manner all the while he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.” A full stop must be placed after David, and the following words taken as a remark of the historian. Cp. 1 Samuel 27:7.

12. Achish believed David] Connect 1 Samuel 27:12 with 1 Samuel 27:10. Achish believed that David had brought himself into ill odour (see on 1 Samuel 13:4) with his own countrymen by his attacks on them, and would now be his permanent vassal.