1 Samuel 21:10

“And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, etc.] He had fled before for fear of him both from his own house, and from Naioth, (<091918>1 Samuel 19:18 20:1); but now he fled out of the land of Israel, for fear of him; or it may be the reason of his fear and flight on this day was because of Doeg the Edomite, lest he should go directly to Saul, and tell him where he was; and therefore through fear of him would not stay any longer, but the same day he came, he fled: and went to Achish the king of Gath; Gath, according to Bunting f442, was twenty four miles from Nob. Achish, the king of it, is called Abimelech in the title of the thirty fourth psalm, (see <193401>Psalm 34:1), that name…”

“AT GATH HE FEIGNS HIMSELF MAD. (Sa1 21:10-15) David . . . fled . . . to Achish the king of Gath--which was one of the five principalities of the Philistines. In this place his person must have been known, and to venture into that country, he their greatest enemy, and with the sword of Goliath in his hand, would seem to have been a perilous experiment; but, doubtless, the protection he received implies that he had been directed by the divine oracle. Achish was generous (Sa1 27:6). He might wish to weaken the resources of Saul, and it was common in ancient times for great men to be harbored by neighboring princes.”

“Achish king of Gath - It appears from the title that Psalms 34:0 was composed on this occasion. (See the note there.) Nothing can give a more lively impression of the straits to which David was reduced than the fact of his going to the country of the Philistines. return to 'Top of Page'”

“To Achish - A strange action; but it must be considered, that Saul's rage was so great, his power also, and diligence in hunting after him that he despaired of escaping any other way: and a desperate disease, produceth a desperate remedy. The king elect is here an exile: anointed to the crown, and yet forced to run his country. So do God's providences sometimes run counter to his promises, for the trial of our faith, and the glorifying his name in accomplishing his counsels, notwithstanding the difficulties that lie in the way. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 21:11”

“21:10-15 Gath, a major Philistine city and the hometown of Goliath, was a clever but dangerous place for David to seek refuge from Saul.”

“fled: Sa1 27:1; Kg1 19:3; Jer 26:21 Achish: or, Abimelech, Sa1 27:2; Psa 34:1 \*title Gath: Jerome says there was a large town called Gath, in the way from Eleutheropolis to Gaza; and Eusebius speaks of another Gath, five miles from Eleutheropolis, towards Lydda (and consequently different from that mentioned by Jerome); and also of another Gath, between Jamnia and Antipatris. It appears to have been the extreme boundary of the Philistine territory in one direction, as Ekron was on the other ( Sa1 7:14; Sa1 17:52), and lay near Mareshah ( Ch2 11:8. Mic 1:14), which agrees pretty well with the position assigned it by Jerome. But Reland and Dr. Wells agree with Eusebius; and the authors of the…”

“David with Achish at Gath. - David fled from Nob to Achish of Gath. This Philistian king is called Abimelech in the heading of Ps 34, according to the standing title of the Philistian princes at Gath. The fact that David fled at once out of the land, and that to the Philistines at Gath, may be accounted for from the great agitation into which he had been thrown by the information he had received from Jonathan concerning Saul's implacable hatred. As some years had passed since the defeat of Goliath, and the conqueror of Goliath was probably not personally known to many of the Philistines, he might hope that he should not be recognised in Gath, and that he might receive a welcome there with…”