I
S A M U E L
CHAP. XXVII.
David
was a man after God's own heart, and yet he had his faults, which are
recorded, not for our imitation, but for our admonition; witness the story of
this chapter, in which, though, I. We find, to his praise, that he prudently
took care of his own safety and his family's (ver. 2-4) and valiantly fought
Israel's battles against the Canaanites (ver. 8-9), yet, II. We find, to his
dishonour, 1. That he began to despair of his deliverance, ver. 1. 2. That he
deserted his own country, and went to dwell in the land of the Philistines,
ver. 1, 5-7. 3. That he imposed upon Achish with an equivocation, if not a
lie, concerning his expedition, ver. 10-12.
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David
Returns to
Gath.
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B. C. 1055.
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1
And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there
is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land
of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any
coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 2 And David
arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him
unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David dwelt
with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even
David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the
Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. 4 And it was told Saul that David was
fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 5 And David
said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a
place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy
servant dwell in the royal city with thee? 6 Then Achish gave him
Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this
day. 7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the
Philistines was a full year and four months.
Here is, I. The prevalency of David's fear, which was the effect of the
weakness of his faith (v. 1): He said to his heart (so it may be
read), in his communings with it concerning his present condition, I shall
now perish one day by the hand of Saul. He represented to himself the
restless rage and malice of Saul (who could not be wrought into a
reconciliation) and the treachery of his own countrymen, witness that of the
Ziphites, once and again; he looked upon his own forces, and observed how few
they were, and that no recruits had come in to him for a great while, nor
could he perceive that he got any ground; and hence, in a melancholy mood, he
draws this dark conclusion: I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul.
But, O thou of little faith! wherefore dost thou doubt? Was he not
anointed to be king? Did not that imply an assurance that he should be
preserved to the kingdom? Though he had no reason to trust Saul's promises,
had he not all the reason in the world to trust the promises of God? His
experience of the particular care Providence took of him ought to have
encouraged him. He that has delivered does and will. But unbelief is a sin
that easily besets even good men. When without are fightings, within are
fears, and it is a hard matter to get over them. Lord, increase our
faith!
II. The resolution he came to hereupon. Now that Saul had, for this time,
returned to his place, he determined to take this opportunity of retiring into
the Philistines' country. Consulting his own heart only, and not the ephod or
the prophet, he concludes, There is nothing better for me than that I
should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines. Long trials are
in danger of tiring the faith and patience even of very good men. Now, 1. Saul
was an enemy to himself and his kingdom in driving David to this extremity. He
weakened his own interest when he expelled from his service, and forced into
the service of his enemies, so great a general as David was, and so brave a
regiment as he had the command of. 2. David was no friend to himself in taking
this course. God had appointed him to set up his standard in the land of
Judah, ch. xxii. 5. There God had wonderfully preserved him, and
employed him sometimes for the good of his country; why then should he think
of deserting his post? How could he expect the protection of the God of Israel
if he went out of the borders of the land of Israel? Could he expect to be
safe among the Philistines, out of whose hands he had lately escaped so
narrowly by feigning himself mad? Would he receive obligations from those now
whom he knew he must not return kindness to when he should come to be king,
but be under an obligation to make war upon? Hereby he would gratify his
enemies, who bade him go and serve other gods that they might have wherewith
to reproach him, and very much weaken the hands of his friends, who would not
have wherewith to answer that reproach. See what need we have to pray, Lord,
lead us not into temptation.
III. The kind reception he had at Gath. Achish bade him welcome, partly out of
generosity, being proud of entertaining so brave a man, partly out of policy,
hoping to engage him for ever to his service, and that his example would
invite many more to desert and come over to him. No doubt he gave David a
solemn promise of protection, which he could rely upon when he could not trust
Saul's promises. We may blush to think that the word of a Philistine should go
further than the word of an Israelite, who, if an Israelite indeed, would be
without guile, and that the city of Gath should be a place of refuge for a
good man when the cities of Israel refuse him a safe abode. David, 1. Brought
his men with him (v. 2) that they might guard him, and might themselves
be safe where he was, and to recommend himself the more to Achish, who hoped
to have service out of him. 2. He brought his family with him, his wives
and his household, so did all his men, v. 2, 3. Masters
of families ought to take care of those that are committed to them, to protect
and provide for those of their own house, and to dwell with them as men of
knowledge.
IV. Saul's desisting from the further prosecution of him (v. 4): He
sought no more again for him; this intimates that notwithstanding the
professions of repentance he had lately made, if he had had David in his
reach, he would have aimed another blow. But, because he dares not come where
he is, he resolves to let him alone. Thus many seem to leave their sins, but
really their sins leave them; they would persist in them if they could. Saul
sought no more for him, contenting himself with his banishment, since he could
not have his blood, and hoping, it may be (as he had done, ch. xviii.
25), that he would, some time or other, fall by the hand of the
Philistines; and, though he would rather have the pleasure of destroying
him himself, yet, if they do it, he will be satisfied, so that it be done
effectually.
V. David's removal from Gath to Ziklag.
1. David's request for leave to remove was prudent and very modest, v.
5. (1.) It was really prudent. David knew what it was to be envied in the
court of Saul, and had much more reason to fear in the court of Achish, and
therefore declines preferment there, and wishes for a settlement in the
country, where he might be private, more within himself, and less in other
people's way. In a town of his own he might have the more free exercise of his
religion, and keep his men better to it, and not have his righteous soul
vexed, as it was at Gath, with the idolatries of the Philistines. (2.) As it
was presented to Achish it was very modest. He does not prescribe to him what
place he should assign him, only begs it may be in some town in the country,
where he pleased (beggars must not be choosers); but he gives this for a
reason, "Why should thy servant dwell in the royal city, to crowd
thee, and disoblige those about thee?" Note, Those that would stand fast
must not covet to stand high; and humble souls aim not to dwell in royal
cities.
2. The grant which Achish made to him, upon that request, was very generous
and kind (v. 6, 7): Achish gave him Ziklag. Hereby, (1.) Israel
recovered their ancient right; for Ziklag was in the lot of the tribe of Judah
(Josh. xv. 31), and afterwards, out of that lot, was assigned, with some other
cities, to Simeon, Josh. xix. 5. But either it was never subdued, or the
Philistines had, in some struggle with Israel, made themselves masters of it.
Perhaps they had got it unjustly, and Achish, being a man of sense and honour,
took this occasion to restore it. The righteous God judgeth righteously.
(2.) David gained a commodious settlement, not only at a distance from Gath,
but bordering upon Israel, where he might keep up a correspondence with his
own countrymen, and whither they might resort to him at the revolution that
was now approaching. Though we do not find that he augmented his forces at all
while Saul lived (for, ch. xxx. 10, he had but his six hundred men),
yet, immediately after Saul's death, that was the rendezvous of his friends.
Nay, it should seem, while he kept himself close because of Saul, multitudes
resorted to him, at least to assure him of their sincere intentions, 1 Chron.
xii. 1-22. And this further advantage David gained, that Ziklag was annexed to
the crown, at least the royalty of it pertained to the kings of Judah, ever
after, v. 6. Note, There is nothing lost by humility and modesty, and a
willingness to retire. Real advantages follow those that flee from imaginary
honours. Here David continued for some days, even four months, as it
may very well be read (v. 7), or some days above four months: the LXX.
reads it, some months; so long he waited for the set time of his
accession to the throne; for he that believeth shall not make haste.
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David Smites the Amalekites.
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B. C. 1055.
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8
And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites,
and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of
the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. 9
And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away
the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and
returned, and came to Achish. 10 And Achish said, Whither have ye
made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against
the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to
Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will
be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the
Philistines. 12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made
his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for
ever.
Here is an account of David's actions while he was in the land of the
Philistines, a fierce attack he made upon some remains of the devoted nations,
his success in it, and the representation he gave of it to Achish. 1. We may
acquit him of injustice and cruelty in this action because those people whom
he cut off were such as heaven had long since doomed to destruction, and he
that did it was one whom heaven had ordained to dominion; so that the thing
was very fit to be done, and he was very fit to do it. It was not for him that
was anointed to fight the Lord's battles to sit still in sloth, however he
might think fit, in modesty, to retire. He desired to be safe from Saul only
that he might expose himself for Israel. He avenged an old quarrel that God
had with these nations, and at the same time fetched in provisions for himself
and his army, for by their swords they must live. The Amalekites were to be
all cut off. Probably the Geshurites and Gezrites were branches of Amalek.
Saul was rejected for sparing them, David makes up the deficiency of his
obedience before he succeeds him. He smote them, and left none alive, v.
8, 9. The service paid itself, for they carried off abundance of spoil, which
served for the subsistence of David's forces. 2. Yet we cannot acquit him of
dissimulation with Achish in the account he gave him of this expedition. (1.)
David, it seems, was not willing that he should know the truth, and therefore
spared none to carry tidings to Gath (v. 11), not because he was
ashamed of what he had done as a bad thing, but because he was afraid, if the
Philistines knew it, they would be apprehensive of danger to themselves or
their allies by harbouring him among them and would expel him from their
coasts. It would be easy to conclude, If so he did, so will be his manner,
and therefore he industriously conceals it from them, which, it seems, he
could do by putting them all to the sword, for none of their neighbours would
inform against him, nor perhaps would soon come to the knowledge of what was
done, intelligence not being so readily communicated then as now. (2.) He hid
it from Achish with an equivocation not at all becoming his character. Being
asked which way he had made his sally, he answered, Against the south of
Judah, v. 13. It was true he had invaded those countries that lay
south of Judah, but he made Achish believe he had invaded those that lay south
in Judah, the Ziphites for example, that had once and again betrayed him; so
Achish understood him, and thence inferred that he had made his people
Israel to abhor him, and so riveted himself in the interest of Achish. The
fidelity of Achish to him, his good opinion of him, and the confidence he put
in him, aggravate his sin in deceiving him thus, which, with some other such
instances, David seems penitently to reflect upon when he prays, Remove
from me the way of lying.
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