1Samuel 27:1 ¶ 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.
Very simply, David returns to the Philistines, although not
feigning madness, but providing a troop of warriors whom the Philistines would
find to be a good resource in time of war. He and his men are given a town to
occupy away from the royal city. This request would show even more his
sincerity as few kings would welcome an armed band of whom were considered
enemy soldiers to live in his city. This was wise on David’s part for several
reasons, particularly to build trust with the Philistines and to be able to
keep his activities from prying eyes.
This kept Saul from looking for him anymore.
1Samuel 27:8 ¶ 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.
As per Joshua 13:2 some commentators say that the Geshurites are
joined with the Philistines so there is a good reason for David hiding this
event from the Philistines.
Joshua 13:2 This is the
land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
Joshua 13:13 Nevertheless
the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but
the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.
This event will have devastating consequences in David’s life and
may be one of the primary excuses for his son, Absalom’s rebellion against his
reign. Obviously, he did not kill everyone because he took a wife of the
daughter of the king of Geshur who would be the mother of Absalom.
2Samuel 3:3 And his second,
Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the
son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
After Amnon raped Tamar Absalom took his revenge by killing Amnon
and then fleeing to his mother’s homeland.
2Samuel 13:37 But Absalom
fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned
for his son every day.
He would return and forty years after David’s slaughter of the
Geshurites, Absalom, perhaps filled with bitterness at the storytelling of his
mother’s beleaguered countrymen about the slaughter mixed with his own
bitterness, Absalom foments rebellion against David.
2Samuel 15:1 ¶ And it came
to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty
men to run before him. 2 And Absalom
rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when
any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom
called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is
of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And
Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man
deputed of the king to hear thee. 4
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every
man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him
justice! 5 And it was so, that when any
man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him,
and kissed him. 6 And on this manner did
Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the
hearts of the men of Israel.
7 ¶ And it came to pass after forty years, that
Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have
vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For
thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD
shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So
he arose, and went to Hebron. 10 But
Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye
hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men
out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they
went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite,
David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered
sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually
with Absalom.
This shows that the narrative that has its fulfillment in 2Samuel
15:7 had its beginning in 1Samuel 27 revealing that there are many overlapping
narratives in the Bible which we should pay attention to.
This civil war brought out the treachery in several important
people who went along with Absalom.
The Philistine king is convinced by this deception that David
belongs to him as his own people must hate him.
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