1 Samuel 29 - Printer Friendly

What does 1 Samuel 29 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

God has told King Saul that Saul's sons will not inherit the throne (1 Samuel 15:27–29). Saul quickly figured out that God would give Israel to David (1 Samuel 18:8–9). Since that time, Saul has tried many times to kill David. But whether Saul throws a spear (1 Samuel 18:10–11; 19:10), sends David into battle (1 Samuel 18:17, 21), or leads an army against him (1 Samuel 23:7–13, 21–29, 24,26), David has consistently refused to fight Saul.

Finally, David brought his 600 men and their families to the protection of Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. For sixteen months, David and his men have been fighting Israel's enemies to the south while telling Achish they've been fighting Israel and Israel's allies (1 Samuel 27). Achish has now brought David's group to the unified army of the Philistines to war against Saul and the Israelite army (1 Samuel 28:1–2).

King Saul will see the Philistine army amassed at Shunem, not far from the Israelites' camp at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:4–5). This chapter backs up a bit to find the Philistine forces gathered at a place called Aphek, well south of Shunem, and preparing to march north (1 Samuel 29:1).

The Philistine commanders seem to be reviewing the fighting men. They come to the end of the procession and find a large group of Israelite fighters with Achish. Since they are on the way to fight the Israelites, the commanders ask very reasonably what these Hebrews are doing here. King Achish insists that having David in this battle is an advantage for the Philistines. He says that the former servant of King Saul has deserted the Israelites and has served him faithfully for over a year (1 Samuel 29:2–3).

The Philistine commanders are far wiser than Achish. There's no way these men can be trusted in the heat of battle to fight against their own king. They would most likely turn and start taking Philistine heads to regain Saul's favor. The Philistine rulers also note that David is the warrior from the song who killed "ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7), and those ten thousands were Philistines! They command Achish to send David back home (1 Samuel 29:4–5).

Achish agrees, but he expresses regret that he will not be able to take David into battle with him. David seemingly pretends to have hurt feelings. He asks what he has done to be rejected this way. It's all but certain David had no intent of fighting his own people. So, this development keeps him from needing any further subterfuge. Achish agrees that David is an angel from God, but the Philistine rulers have made their decision. He commands David and his men to return to Ziklag at first light, and they do (1 Samuel 29:6–11).

When David and his men reach Ziklag, they find their city burned and their wives and children taken by the Amalekites. Despite being fatigued by the long march, they catch up and easily retrieve their families (1 Samuel 30). David doesn't learn until later that God kept him from fighting the army he will later command in the battle in which Saul and three of his sons, including Jonathan, were killed (1 Samuel 31). God has opened the way for David to be king.

First Samuel 29:1–5 contains another example of God protecting David from having to fight his future army. Achish has allowed David, his men, and their families to settle in Ziklag for over a year (1 Samuel 27). Achish wants David's group to fight with him against the Israelites, but the other Philistine commanders wisely disagree. Achish will send David's group home (1 Samuel 29:6–11) where they find the Amalekites have kidnapped their wives and kids and burned their city (1 Samuel 30). While David is marching, the Philistines kill Saul's sons, and Saul kills himself (1 Samuel 31).

First Samuel 29:6–11 records the Philistine king, Achish, sadly sending David home. David and his men have been under Achish's protection from Saul for over a year, and Achish has brought them to fight the Israelites with the other Philistine armies. Those other commanders, however, don't trust David, so Achish dismisses them (1 Samuel 29:1–5). When David and his men return, their city is burned, and their families are gone. Despite their fatigue, they overtake the Amalekites and rescue their wives and children (1 Samuel 30). Meanwhile, Saul and three of his sons die in battle (1 Samuel 31).

Chapter Summary:

David, his men, and their families have been hiding from King Saul under the protection of Achish, Philistine king of Gath (1 Samuel 27:1–2). Achish so thoroughly trusts that David has rejected the Israelites that he plans to take David and his men into battle with him against the Israelites. The Philistine commanders reject this idea and tell Achish to send David back home. David protests, but Achish has no choice but to order David to return to the land of the Philistines to sit out the battle against Israel.

Chapter Context:

The Philistines are renewing their war against the Israelites (1 Samuel 28:1). Achish, king of Gath, insists that David and his men fight with him in the battle against Israel. The Philistine commanders wisely reject the idea of allowing these Israelites among their ranks in battle, no matter how much Achish trusts David. David protests, and Achish expresses his regret, but the king sends David and his men back home. They will arrive to find their families captured and their city burnt (1 Samuel 30:1).

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.

Accessed 11/27/2025 10:57:04 PM