1 Samuel 29

1 Samuel 29

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 1 Samuel Chart from Charles Swindoll TIMELINE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS & CHRONICLES 1107 1011 971 931 853 722 586 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 31 1-4 5-10 11-20 21-24 1-11 12-22 1-17 18-25 1 Chronicles 10 1 Chr 11-19 1 Chr 20-29 2 Chronicles 1-9 2 Chronicles 10-20 2 Chronicles 21-36 Legend: B.C. dates at top of timeline are approximate. Note that 931BC marks the division of the Kingdom into Southern Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Ten Northern Tribes. To avoid confusion be aware that after the division of the Kingdom in 931BC, the Southern Kingdom is most often designated in Scripture as "Judah" and the Northern Kingdom as "Israel." Finally, note that 1 Chronicles 1-9 is not identified on the timeline because these chapters are records of genealogy. The Ryrie Study Bible Below is map from the Holman Bible Atlas (digital book; Hardcover) Click to enlarge - from the Holman Bible Atlas (digital book; Hardcover) copyright © 1998 B&H Publishing Group, used by permission, all rights reserved. This is one of the best resources for Bible maps. Please do not reproduce this map on any other webpage. Thank you. 1 Samuel 29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel. the Philistines: 1Sa 28:1-2 Aphek: 1Sa 4:1 Jos 19:30 1Ki 20:30 Jezreel: 1Sa 28:4 Jos 19:18 Jdg 6:33 1Ki 18:45,46 21:1,23 2Ki 9:36 Ho 1:4-11 1 Samuel 29 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 28:1+ 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.” “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.” 1 Samuel 28:4+ So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in Gilboa. PHILISTINES GATHER TO FOR SLAUGHTER AT JEZREEL Now - This marks the writer returning to his story in 1Sa 28:4 after interrupting it with the story of Saul's visit to the medium. The Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek - Note in 1Sa 28:1 the text says they camped at Shunem. If you look at the map above, clearly they had to first come to Aphek and march on from there to Shunem in the heart of Israeli territory in the plain of Jezreel. while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel - Israel was at the southeastern end of the plain of Jezreel (in the map above Jezreel is just south of Shunem). In short, the two armies were camped across from each other in preparation for the battle. As an aside, it is notable that Jezreel means "God Scatters," which is exactly what transpired with the Israeli forces and also the lay people who realized the cause was lost! They all scattered (fled)! 1 Samuel 29:2 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. the lords: 1Sa 29:6,7 5:8-11 6:4 Jos 13:3 but David: 1Sa 28:1,2 1 Samuel 29 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: 1 Chronicles 12:19-22 From Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.” 20 As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army. 22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God. PHILISTINES ON THE MOVE WITH DAVID COMING BEHIND And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands - The point is that the Philistines had a huge contingent numbering in many thousands of soldiers. And although not stated in this section, remember that the Philistines had iron chariots in their army, making them a frightening, formidable force. No wonder "When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly." (1Sa 28:5). Recall his fear drove him to attempt communication with God, but God had shut the door of heaven. Clearly God was sovereignly allowing the Philistines to move into place to demolish Saul's forces and ultimately to remove him as king of Israel. and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish - Apparently David's forces had come to Aphek or were in the contingent moving from Aphek toward Shunem. The text does not allow a definitive localization of David's forces. The main point is David was getting ready to be gored by one of the "horns of his dilemma!" Would he fight against his own people or would the tell Achish he could not fight them? 1 Samuel 29:3 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?" these days: 1Sa 27:7 found: 1Sa 25:28 Da 6:5 Joh 19:6 Ro 12:17 1Pe 3:16 1 Samuel 29 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PHILISTINES COMMANDERS TO THE RESCUE Then - This marks a crucial progression in the events, for as we noted above, David was in a seemingly no win situation. The commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" - They are referring to David and his men. 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 (defected) to me to this day - Achish comes to the defense of David (one can imagine David saying just "cool it" Achish). David had successfully deceived Achish for 16 months (Achish exaggerates somewhat saying "years" but it was 1 year and four months so strictly speaking he was not incorrect). Achish explains David has been loyal to him this entire time. Notice he also uses the verb deserted, (literally to fall like Eli in 1Sa 4:18 but figuratively "fall away" or desert - cf 2Ki 25:11) trying to convince that Philistine commanders that David no longer had any allegiance with the Israelite forces they would soon be fighting. Hebrews (5680)(ibri/ivri) - Gilbrant - Used mostly in the Pentateuch and 1 Samuel, ʿivrî is a proper noun meaning "Hebrew." Potiphar's wife accused Joseph, "a Hebrew man," of forcing himself on her (Gen. 39:14; see v. 17 where she identifies him as a "Hebrew slave"). Moses tried to protect a Hebrew man from an Egyptian only to find two Hebrew men fighting each other (Exo. 2:11, 13). Exodus 21:2-11 gives rules regarding the proper treatment of Hebrew slaves (cf. Deut. 15:12; Jer. 34:8-20). Hebrews are often referred to as Hebrews by foreigners: the Egyptians in Gen. 37-50 and Exo. 1-15 and the Philistines in 1 Sam. 4, 13, 14. Thus, "Hebrew" is used to distinguish the nationality of a person or persons, male or female (cf. Exo. 1:15, a Hebrew midwife). Jonah 1:9 is the only text in which a person describes himself as a Hebrew. The etymology of the word is difficult to trace. It may be derived from an Akkadian term habiru. This word likely referred to a group of fugitives. If this connection is valid, then some transformation of the meaning must have occurred in the Hebrew adoption of this term. With the exception of the specific reference to Hebrew slaves in Exo. 21, this term is not a social distinction as it was in Akkadian. Throughout its use in the OT, it is a designation for the whole ethnic population of the Israelites. Nevertheless, since "Hebrew" is a designation often ascribed to the Israelites in refuge (especially in Genesis and Exodus), a derogatory nuance may remain from its Akkadian origin. In postexilic and pre-Hellenistic times, "Hebrew" was not commonly used as a general designation for Israelites. In the NT, only three passages use the term "Hebrew (Hebrais)." In Acts 6:1, "Hebrew" is used to designate the Jewish Christian congregation. Paul called himself a Hebrew to show that he was a Hebrew-speaking Jew rather than a Greek-speaking Jew (2 Cor. 11:22; Phil. 3:5). (Complete Biblical Library) Ibri - 32v - Gen. 14:13; Gen. 39:14; Gen. 39:17; Gen. 40:15; Gen. 41:12; Gen. 43:32; Exod. 1:15; Exod. 1:16; Exod. 1:19; Exod. 2:6; Exod. 2:7; Exod. 2:11; Exod. 2:13; Exod. 3:18; Exod. 5:3; Exod. 7:16; Exod. 9:1; Exod. 9:13; Exod. 10:3; Exod. 21:2; Deut. 15:12; 1 Sam. 4:6; 1 Sam. 4:9; 1 Sam. 13:3; 1 Sam. 13:7; 1 Sam. 13:19; 1 Sam. 14:11; 1 Sam. 14:21; 1 Sam. 29:3; Jer. 34:9; Jer. 34:14; Jon. 1:9 James Orr on HEBREW - he'-broo, he'-broo-es (`ibhri, feminine `ibhriyah; Hebraios): The earliest name for Abraham (Gen 14:13) and his descendants (Joseph, Gen 39:14,17; 40:15; 41:12; 43:32; Israelites in Egypt, Ex 1:15; 2:6,11,13; 3:18; in laws, Ex 21:2; Dt 15:12; in history, 1 Sam 4:6,9; 13:7,19, etc.; later, Jer 34:9, "Hebrewess," 34:14; Jon 1:9; in the New Testament, Acts 6:1; 2 Cor 11:22; Phil 3:5). The etymology of the word is disputed. It may be derived from Eber (Gen 10:21,24,25, etc.), or, as some think, from the verb `abhar, "to cross over" (people from across the Euphrates; compare Josh 24:2). A connection is sought by some with the apri or epri of the Egyptian monuments, and again with the Habiri of the Tell el-Amarna Letters. In Acts 6:1, the "Hebrews" are contrasted with "Hellenists," or Greek-speaking Jews. By the "Hebrew" tongue in the New Testament (Hebraisti, Jn 5:2; 19:13,17,20; 20:16) is meant ARAMAIC (which see), but also in Rev 9:11; 16:16, Hebrew proper. W E Vine - Hebrew." The origin and meaning of this word, which appears 34 times, is much debated. The word is an early generic term for a variety of Semitic peoples and is somewhat akin to our word barbarian. So Abram is identified as a "Hebrew" (Gen. 14:13). This ethnic term indicates family origin whereas the term "sons of Israel" is a political and religious term. Unquestionably in the ancient Near East "Hebrew" was applied to a far larger group than the Israelites. The word occurs in Ugaritic, Egyptian, and Babylonian writings describing a diverse mixture of nomadic wanderers or at least those who appear to have at one time been nomadic. Sometimes the word seems to be a term of derision. Such usage recalls 1 Sam. 29:3, where the Philistine leaders asked Achish, "What do these Hebrews here?" There is considerable debate about identifying Hebrew with the well-known Habiru (Semitic warlords) who occupied Egypt in the first half of the second millennium b.c. Several other nouns are derived from the verb ʿābar. ʿĒber, which occurs 89 times, refers to the "side" (1 Sam. 14:1) or "edge" (Exod. 28:26) of something. When speaking of rivers or seas, ʿēber means the "edge or side opposite the speaker" or "the other side" (Josh. 2:10). Maʿbārâ, which appears 8 times, means "ford" (Josh. 2:7) and "ravine" or "passage" (1 Sam. 14:4). Maʿabār appears 3 times to mean: "sweep" (of a staff, Isa. 30:32); "ford" (Gen. 32:22); and "ravine" or "passage" (1 Sam. 13:23). ʿAbārâ, which occurs twice, means "crossing or ford" (2 Sam. 19:18, rsv). (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words) F B