David Protected From Betraying Israel

Achish, king of the Philistines in Gath, had told David war was coming and he wanted David and his men to serve as his personal forces.  The two armies assembled, and the philistines held a review before entering the fight, as I Samuel 29:1-2 tells us.  “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.”  Achish and his army brought up the rear, accompanied by David and his men.

The other kings of the Philistines were concerned when they saw David and his men, as they were Israelites.  They were concerned that their loyalties might lie with Israel rather than the Philistines, and they would attack from within, as I Samuel 29:3-5 explains.  “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?

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?”

The Philistines remembered the role David had played in other battles, and how much he had been admired by the Israelites.  If he turned on them, he could well change the course of the battle, and they didn’t want to take the chance, despite Achish’s reassurances.   Achish believed David had turned against Israel because of Saul’s persecution, knowing he had made numerous raids into Israel, and not realizing they had been against enemy villages inside Israel’s boundaries.  The other kings insisted David be sent back, and Achish was forced to comply, as I Samuel 29:6-11 tells us.  “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.

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.  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.”

Had David accompanied the Philistines, it would have made him an enemy of the Israelites, but if he refused to go, it would have caused Achish to doubt him.   God used the Philistine’s suspicion to prevent his having to fight Israel without offending Achish.