# 1 Samuel 29 📖: The Philistines Reject David [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-1 Samuel Overview]] | [[1 Samuel 28]] | [[1 Samuel 30]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### David Is Rejected by the Philistine Leaders [[#Verse 01.]] The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel.  [[#Verse 02.]] When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish. [[#Verse 03.]] The leaders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, “Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time? I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!” [[#Verse 04.]] But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said to him, “Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don’t let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men?  [[#Verse 05.]] Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands’?” [[#Verse 06.]] So Achish summoned David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have you serving with me in the army. I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opinion of the leaders, you are not reliable.  [[#Verse 07.]] So turn and leave in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!” [[#Verse 08.]] But David said to Achish, “What have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the present time, that I shouldn’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?”  [[#Verse 09.]] Achish replied to David, “I am convinced that you are as reliable as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us in the battle.’  [[#Verse 10.]] So get up early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come with you. When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave.” [[#Verse 11.]] So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. The Philistines gathered at Aphek (29:1), where they had defeated Israel and captured the ark years before (4:1). 2. Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel (29:1). 3. The Philistine commanders feared David would switch sides in battle (29:4), something Hebrews had done before (14:21). 4. The commanders quoted the song about Saul's thousands and David's tens of thousands (29:5). 5. Achish, a Philistine king, swore an oath by the Lord's name (29:6). 6. Achish told David he had found no fault in him since the day he arrived (29:3, 6). 7. David protested that he wanted to fight the enemies of "my lord the king" (29:8), a phrase that leaves unclear which king he meant. 8. Achish compared David to an angel of God (29:9). 9. 1 Chronicles 12:19-20 says men from Manasseh joined David when the Philistine rulers sent him away. 10. Being sent home kept David from fighting against Israel in the battle where Saul and Jonathan died (chapter 31). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Lord who rules even through the decisions of those who do not know Him. God used Philistine commanders to keep David from fighting his own people (29:4-7), just as Herod and Pilate did only what God had planned (Acts 4:27-28). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. David ended up marching with the Philistines against Israel (29:2). How do small compromises put us in places we never meant to be? 2. God used the suspicion of the Philistine commanders to rescue David (29:4). Where have you seen God use an unwanted no to protect you? 3. Achish said David was as good as an angel of God (29:9). What does it mean that David's reputation stayed strong even among outsiders? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 4: The Philistine commanders insist David must not go into battle with them. - 📖 verse 6: Achish tells David he has been honest and that he has found no fault in him. - 📖 verse 9: Achish says David is as good in his eyes as an angel of God. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Genesis 50#Verse 20.|Genesis 50:20]] - God meant it for good. - 🔗 [[Proverbs 21#Verse 01.|Proverbs 21:1]] - The king's heart is in the Lord's hand. - 🔗 [[1 Chronicles 12#Verse 19.|1 Chronicles 12:19-20]] - The Philistines send David away. - 🔗 [[Romans 08#Verse 28.|Romans 8:28]] - God works all things together for good. - 🔗 [[Acts 04#Verse 27.|Acts 4:27-28]] - God's plan is accomplished through rulers. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[1 Samuel 29 - SOAP|What Reputation Precedes You?]] ## 📂 Internal Notes