1 Samuel 28:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."

NIV: David said, "Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do." Achish replied, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."

NASB: David said to Achish, 'Very well, you will learn what your servant can do.' So Achish said to David, 'Then I will assuredly make you my bodyguard for life!'

CSB: David replied to Achish, "Good, you will find out what your servant can do." So Achish said to David, "Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard."

NLT: Very well!' David agreed. 'Now you will see for yourself what we can do.' Then Achish told David, 'I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.'

KJV: And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

NKJV: So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”

For sixteen months, David, his men, and their families have lived under the protection of Achish, king of Gath. They live in their own city and battle against Israel's enemies. When questioned by Achish, they tell him they're fighting other Israelites (1 Samuel 27).

Now, Achish has come to collect. He calls on David to join him in battle with the other Philistine armies against Saul and the Israelites (1 Samuel 28:1). We're not told how David feels about this, but he gives an ambiguous answer. He merely says that Achish will "know what your servant can do." It's possible that David intended to turn on Achish or find some other way to avoid fighting his own people. One way or another, Achish believes David's word. He also believes the Israelites hate David and that David has no other option. David will serve Achish as his bodyguard for life, essentially becoming a servant. The Philistine king believes he's tamed the Goliath-killer.

Unfortunately for Achish, the other Philistine commanders aren't so trusting. They insist that a warrior who has killed "ten thousand" of their people (1 Samuel 18:6–7) will betray them all. Achish has no choice but to send David and his men away (1 Samuel 29).

God's sovereignty protects David on several levels. He won't be present for the battle that brings the deaths of Saul and his sons. And when they return home, David and his men will find the Amalekites have burned their cities and taken their wives and children. Yet they will catch up and easily rescue their families (1 Samuel 30—31).

First Samuel 28:1–2 sees David called on to battle against Saul. David's men and their families have been safe under the protection of the Philistine king Achish (1 Samuel 27). Now, Achish wants David's men to fight Israel with the Philistines. Since David has been telling Achish they've been raiding Israelite towns, he is forced to accept. Fortunately, the other kings will refuse to fight with the man who has killed so many of them, and David will be sent away. When they reach home, they'll find the Amalekites have burned their city and taken their families (1 Samuel 29—30).

Israelites and the Philistines prepare for war. The Philistine king Achish demands that David fight with him against Israel. Terrified at the amassed Philistine army and unable to reach the Lord for help, Saul finds a medium to contact Samuel's spirit. Samuel repeats that the Lord has taken the kingdom from Saul and adds that Saul and his sons will fall, along with Israel, the next day. The medium serves Saul and his men a large meal, and the men leave under the cover of darkness. David is saved from having to fight his own people, but Saul and his sons do die. David will soon be king (1 Samuel 29; 31).

David and his men have escaped Saul (1 Samuel 27) and begun been fighting Israel's enemies under the protection of the Philistine king Achish (1 Samuel 28). Now, Achish wants David to fight Israel with him. Saul sees the Philistine army and is terrified. He finds a medium to call up Samuel's spirit. Samuel tells Saul that he, his sons, and Israel will fall. Fortunately, the other Philistine kings refuse to fight with David, and Achish sends him home. But Saul's sons are killed. Mortally wounded, Saul will take his own life (1 Samuel 29; 31).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.