1 Samuel 29:3

“Then said the princes of the Philistines, etc.] To Achish; not those of the court of Achish, who were his subjects, but the confederate princes with him in this war, the lords of the other principalities, as appears by the freedom they took with him, (<092904>1 Samuel 29:4); what [do] these Hebrews [here]? or Jews, as the Targum; what hast thou to do with them, or they to be with thee? men of another nation and religion, and known enemies to the Philistines: and Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines; in order to soften them, and reconcile them to these men, and their being with him: [is] not this David the servant of Saul the king of Israel; between whom there had been a quarrel,…”

“these days, or these years--He had now been with the Philistines a full year and four months (Sa1 27:7), and also some years before. It has been thought that David kept up a private correspondence with this Philistine prince, either on account of his native generosity, or in the anticipation that an asylum in his territories would sooner or later be needed.”

“He fell unto me - The regular word for deserting and going over to the other side. See Jeremiah 37:13; Jeremiah 38:19. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The princes - The Lords of the other eminent cities, who were confederate with him in this expedition. These days or years - That is, did I say days? I might have said years. He hath now been with me a full year and four months, Sa1 27:7, and he was with me some years ago, Sa1 21:10, and since their time hath been known to me. And it is not improbable, but David, after his escape from thence, might hold some correspondence with Achish, as finding him to be a man of a more generous temper than the rest of the Philistines, and supposing that he might have need of him for a refuge, in case Saul continued to seek his life. Since he fell - Revolted, or left his own king to turn to me. 1 Kings (1…”

“29:3 servant of King Saul: To Achish, David was a valued defector. The other Philistine rulers suspected that David was a plant, planning to mount an attack from within the Philistine defenses. • never found a single fault: This was the first of three times that Achish defended David (see also 29:6, 9). Yet David had been deceiving Achish the whole time (see 27:1-12).”

“Is not this David: These words seem to mark no definite time; and may be understood thus: "Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me for a considerable time?" these days: Sa1 27:7 found: Sa1 25:28; Dan 6:5; Joh 19:6; Rom 12:17; Pe1 3:16 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 29:4”