Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Samuel · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
Verſ. 1. THere is nothing better for me, then that I ſhould ſpeedily eſcape into the land of the Philistines, &c.] This was no warrantable courſe which David here pitched upon for his preſervation; for firſt, God had once before commanded him to abide in the land of Judah, by the Prophet Gad, chap. 22.5. ſecondly, having been ſuch a deadly enemy to the Philiſtines, and ſo hardly once before eſcaped with his life, when he ſought for ſhelter amongſt them; there was no likelihood he ſhould be now entertained by them upon any other terms, then that he and his ſouldiers ſhould turn to the Philiſtines, and become enemies to the king and people of Iſrael: and thirdly, to the great grief of thoſe that were righteous in the land, the enemies of David would exceedingly triumph in this, alledging that now he had diſcovered what he was, in deſerting his people, and religion, and joyning himſelf to their uncircumciſed enemies: but thus it is uſually with men when their hearts ſink through infidelity, as Davids now did; they will ſeek to help themſelves by any unlawfull means, as men ready to ſink in the water, will be catching at any thing to ſave themſelves from drowning.
Verſ. 2. And David aroſe, and he paſſed over with the ſix hundred men that were with him, unto Achiſh, &c. To Achiſh king of Gath David fled once before, chap. 21.10. (yet ſome think that this was not the ſame Achiſh, and that to diſtinguiſh this from him, formerly mentioned, this is ſaid to be the ſonne of Maoch) but David went in another manner now then he went before; then he went ſecretly, and alone by himſelf, hoping to have lived there unknown: now he went openly, attended with ſix hundred followers, and their ſeverall houſholds, ver. 3. and therefore now it is likely that he had beforehand procured from Achiſh aſſurance, that he and his ſhould live ſafely in the land, to which indeed policy might perſwade him, in regard of the hatred wherewith Saul, that made continuall warres with the Philiſtines, was known to proſecute David.
Verſ. 5. Let them give me a place in ſome town in the countrey, &c.] Davids aim in this requeſt might be: firſt, that he might have the more freedome for the ſervice of God, and the exerciſe of his religion; and might keep his ſouldiers from being corrupted with the ſinnes of the Philiſtines, eſpecially of their Court-ſinnes: ſecondly, that he might avoid the better the envie of the Philiſtines: for being retired to ſome obſcure corner of the countrey, where he ſhould be leſſe in their eye, there would not be ſo frequent occaſio… of offence and ſtirring their ſpirits againſt him; and beſides, all ſuſpicion would be taken away of his affecting any advancement, or place of eminency in their Court or State: and thirdly, that he might thence prey upon the enemies of Gods people ſecretly, without having any notice taken of it: but all he pretends was onelyonly, as out of modeſty, that it was not fit for him a ſtranger to live with the king in the royall citie, eſpecially having ſo much people with him, who muſt needs be burdenſome, and might prove ſometime offenſive, both … him, and to the inhabitants.
Verſ. 6. Then Achiſh gave him Ziklag that day.] Policie would have adviſed to place him for the better aſſurance in ſome town in the midſt of the land, and not in a town that bordered upon his own countrey, as Ziklag did; but this ſheweth that God had blinded Achiſh for Davids good.
Wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah, unto this day.] Ziklag was long ſince allotted to the tribe of Judah, Joſh. 15.31. and afterwards was given to Simeon, Joſh. 19.5. though ever ſince detained by the Philiſtines; but now it came into the poſſeſſion of thoſe to whom God had given it, and was not onelyonly joyned to Judahs portion, but was alſo upon this occaſion deſigned to be for ever after, a part of the Grown-land of the kings of Judah.
Verſ. 8. And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geſhurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites, &c.] Under a pretence of invading Judea, he bent his forces another way, and ſmote the Amalekites, and others, which are thought to be the remainders of the Canaanites, to wit, the Geſhurites, that is, thoſe that dwelt formerly in Geſhur in Gilead, Joſh. 12.15. and the Gezrites, that had dwelt in Gezer, which belonged to Ephraim, Joſh. 16.3, who perhaps at the firſt coming of the Iſraelites, fled thence to the Amalekites, and had ever ſince dwelt amongſt them. And thus he not onelyonly provided for the maintenance of his army, by the ſpoils he took, and deluded Achiſh, who thought he had pillaged the land of Iſrael; but withall he deſtroyed thoſe accurſed nations, whom God had at firſt appointed to be rooted out, and continued ſtill enemies to the Iſraelites.
Verſ. 10. And David ſaid, Againſt the ſouth of Judah, and against the ſouth of the Jerahmeelites, and against the ſouth of the Kenites.] It cannot be conceived that David pretended the invaſion of ſo many places in one day. The meaning therefore of this paſſage muſt needs be this, That when ever Achiſh asked him that queſtion; Whither have ye made a rode to day? he anſwered, ſometimes that he made a rode againſt the ſouth of Judah; and ſometimes again, that he had made a rode againſt the ſouth of Jerahmeelites (who were a particular family of the tribe of Judah, 1. Chron. 2.9.25.) and ſometimes alſo againſt the ſouth of the Kenites; and thus he either told Achiſh again and again many deliberate lies, to ſecure himſelf and his from danger; or at leaſt he purpoſely deceived Achiſh with the ambiguity of his words (which ill-became ſo good a man) intending that Achiſh ſhould underſtand him, that he had invaded the ſouth parts of Judah, &c. whereas he meant he had invaded thoſe bordering countreys that lay ſouth-ward of Judah, and of the Jerahmeelites, and of the Kenites.
Verſ. 11. Leſt they ſhould tell on us, &c.] To wit, becauſe theſe nations were tributaries to Achiſh, or at leaſt his confederates and neighbours. It is ſtrange indeed how theſe things could be concealed from the Philiſtines: but firſt, we muſt conſider that the people ſmitten dwelt ſomewhat farre from the Philiſtines, and ſcattered in ſeverall places of a ſolitary wilderneſſe; and ſecondly, there might be ſome ſpeciall hand of God in concealing theſe things for Davids ſafety.