The Philistines Question David’s Loyalty

I Samuel 29:1-11

“Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.  And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.” (I Samuel 28:1-2)

The Philistines were divided into five city states.  When they got ready to attack Israel the amassed all five armies at Aphek, while the Israelites camped by a spring in Jezreel.  The Philistine kings had their various armies pass in review as they planned their strategy.  David and his men were at the very back of the review as Achish’s personal guard.

“Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here?

 And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?” (I Samuel 29:3)

When the Philistine leaders saw David and his men, they demanded to know why a bunch of Hebrews were there.  After all, they were getting ready to attack the Hebrew’s home country and they weren’t sure where their loyalties lay.

Achish tried to reassure them that David had given his best for Saul, and Saul had turned on him unfairly, so that he had his own score to settle.  During the time, almost a year and a half that David had been in Gath, he had done nothing to cause any problems, and Achish trusted him.

“And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?  Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?” (I Samuel 29:4-5) 

The other Philistines got upset at Achish for bringing David.  They didn’t know him, but they knew his reputation in Israel, as a great warrior.  They didn’t want to take the chance that in the middle of the Battle, David and his men might suddenly turn on them and disrupt all their planning in an attempt to ingratiate himself with Saul.  While they didn’t know it would happen, they were not willing to take the chance, and demanded that David and his men be sent back.

“Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.  Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.” (I Samuel 29:6-7)

Achish apologized for sending David home, stating that he had absolute confidence  in him, but that the other Philistines didn’t trust him and he didn’t want to offend them.

“And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king? 

And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.  Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.” (I Samuel 29:8-10)

David wanted to make sure he had done nothing to offend Achish and that he knew he appreciated being given asylum enough to fight to help protect the land.  Achish again stressed that he was absolutely confident of David’s loyalty, but that since the Philistines demanded it, he thought it better that David and his men return Ziklag as soon as the sun came up thae next morning.

“So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.” (I Samuel 29:11)

Acceding to Achish’s request, David and his men returned to Ziklag, while the Philistine army advanced to Jezreel to attack Israel.   Though it seemed a slur against them at the momentt, they would be glad God caused them to come back when they did.