1 Samuel 29
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 29
NJB (MT versing) The Philistines Mistrust David The Philistines Reject David The Services of David Rejected by the Philistines David Is Rejected by the Philistines David Is Sent Away by the Philistine Leaders 29:1-5 29:1-5 29:1-5 29:1-3b 29:1-5 29:3c (5b) (5b) (5b) 29:4-5 (5b) 29:6-11 29:6-7 29:6-11 29:6-7 29:6-7 29:8-11 29:8 29:8-10 29:9-10 29:11 29:11 Etc.
1 Samuel 29:1-5
29:1 "to Aphek" This word (BDB 67) has an uncertain etymology, possibly "river bed," KB 80 "stronghold," KB 80, BDB 67 "enclosure" (from VERBAL root), BDB 67 There are several places/cities by this designation on the coast near Joppa on the coast near Acco east of the Sea of Galilee on the eastern Philistine border south of Timnah Aphekah, southwest of Hebron Aphekah, east of Byblos A good atlas picture is in The MacMillan Bible Atlas, p. 74, map #95. BDB says it is the same city as mentioned in Josh. 12:18 (cf. 1 Kgs. 20:26,30; 2 Kgs. 13:17). 29:2 "the lords" This is a Philistine loan word (BDB 710). It refers to the "kings" of the five city-states of the Philistine area (cf. v. 7; 1 Sam. 5:8). ▣ "by hundreds and by thousands" These are not numbers only but military groupings. SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) 29:3 "the commanders" This is a generic term (BDB 978) for "chieftain," "ruler," "official," "captain," "prince." Here, it refers to the Philistine military commanders. ▣ "Hebrews" This (BDB 720, KB 782) term is mostly used by non-Israelite people to designate Israelites. Its etymology seems to be "one from the other side," possibly referring to "those coming from the eastern side of the Jordan (i.e., not from Canaan). "Eber" of Gen. 10:24-25, a descendant of Shem "Habiru," a semi-nomadic Semite population migrating from east to west across the ANE in the second millennium (see El-Amarna Letters) ▣ "rather these years" The LXX makes this time period specific (i.e.," this is the second year"), possibly following 1 Sam. 27:7. ▣ NASB NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA "deserted" TEV, REB "came over" "gave himself up" "came" "defection" The MT has "fall" (BDB 656, KB 709, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) used in the metaphorical sense of "falling away from Saul." This VERB is used of desertion before an enemy in Jer. 37:13; 38:19. 29:4 "were angry with him" The Philistine military leaders had a negative emotional reaction to David and his men because of their relation to Israel (i.e., racial animus) of their fear of them helping the Israelite army (i.e., military strategy) From the text, both seem true. SPECIAL TOPIC: RACISM ▣ "the man" This is a way of showing disrespect. They will not even mention David's name. ▣ NASB, NRSV, LXX "Would it not be with the heads of these men?" NKJV, JPSOA "if not with the heads of these men?" "by the death of our men?" REV "than at the price of our lives?" "except with our heads?" In this period and in this part of the world, victory was expressed by the cutting off of the heads of the vanquished foes or enemy. Goliath ‒ 1 Sam. 17:46,51 Saul ‒ 1 Sam. 31:9 Ish-bosheth ‒ 2 Sam. 4:7 Sheba ‒ 2 Sam. 20:22 Elisha, charge of the intent of the king of Israel ‒ 2 Kgs. 6:31-32 29:5 The Philistines knew of David's military prowess.
1 Samuel 29:6-11
29:6 "As the Lord lives" This is an oath idiom based on the covenant name for Israel's Deity (YHWH). It is so surprising that a Philistine king would use this name! SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ Notice how Achish describes David's perceived loyalty. you have been upright his goings out and comings in have been pleasing to the Philistines (i.e., his supposed raids on southern Judah, cf. v. 8; 1 Sam. 26:8-11) Achish had not found evil in anything David had done for all his time with him David is described as "like an angel of God" (v. 9; 2 Sam. 14:17,20; 19:27) However, also note the two "nevertheless" (vv. 6, 9). Even with all this praise, the Philistine military leaders will not allow David and his men to join the battle. 29:10 These is some confusion in the Hebrew text of this verse (JPSOA footnote). The LXX has an expanded version. "And now be early in the morning, you and the servants of your Lord who came with you, and go to the place, there where I appointed you, and do not place a pestilent thought in your heart, for you are good before me, and start early on the way, and let there be light upon you, and go." The UBS Text Project, p. 203, gives the LXX version a "D" rating (highly doubtful), but they prefer it to the MT. ▣ "of your lord" This must be a reference to King Saul. It was another way of asserting that David and his men were Hebrews/Israelites.