1 Samuel 29:3
WEB
Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Isn’t this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years? I have found no fault in him since he fell away until today.”
BSB
Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”
KJV
Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H559
v — say
Derivation: a primitive root;
to say (used with great latitude)
KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, × expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.
vb — utter
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
1. Say
2. Say in the heart (= think)
3. Promise
4. Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
H8269
n-m — head
Derivation: from 8323;
a head person (of any rank or class)
KJV: captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.
n.m — chieftain
שַׂר 420 n.m. chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
H6430
a — Pelishtite
Derivation: patrial from 6429;
a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
KJV: Philistine.
adj.gent — Philistine
פְּלִשְׁתִּי 288 adj.gent. Philistine
H4100
i — what?, how?, why?, when?, what!, how!, what, whatever, that which
Derivation: or מַה; or מָ; or מַ; also מֶה; a primitive particle;
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
pron.interrog — what?
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
1. interrog. what?
2. Used adverbially
3. Indef. pron.
4. With preps.
H5680
n-pr — Eberite
Derivation: patronymic from 5677;
an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber
KJV: Hebrew(-ess, woman).
adj — Hebrew
עִבְרִי adj. et n.gent. Hebrew
H428
d — these, those
Derivation: prolonged from 411;
these or those
KJV: an-(the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m).
pr.pl.m — these
אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these
a. in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
b. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
c. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
d. with preps.
H397
n-pr-m — Akish
Derivation: of uncertain derivation;
Akish, a Philistine king
KJV: Achish.
n.pr.m — Achish
אָכִישׁ n.pr.m. king of Gath
H413
prep — near, with, among, to
Derivation: (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.
near, with or among; often in general, to
KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, × hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
prep — motion to
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).
1. of motion to or unto a person or place
2. Where the limit is actually entered, into
3. Of direction towards anything
4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
6. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
7. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
8. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
H3808
adv — not, no
Derivation: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
KJV: × before, or else, ere, except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (× as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, surely, as truly as, of a truth, verily, for want, whether, without.
adv — not
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
H2088
d — this, that
Derivation: a primitive word;
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
KJV: he, × hence, × here, it(-self), × now, × of him, the one...the other, × than the other, (× out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, × thus, very, which. Compare 2063, 2090, 2097, 2098.
demonstr.pron — this
זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here
1. standing alone
2. In appos. to subst.
3. More oft. as pred.
4. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.
5. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)
6. With prefixes (in special senses)
H1732
n-pr-m — David
Derivation: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as 1730; loving;
David, the youngest son of Jesse
KJV: David.
n.pr.m — David
דָּוִד, דָּוִיד 1066 n.pr.m. David
H5650
n-m — servant
Derivation: from 5647;
a servant
KJV: × bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
n.m — slave
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
1. slave, servant of household
2. Subjects, of chief
3. Servants, worshippers of God
4. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
5. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
6. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
7. Phrases
H7586
n-pr-m — Shaul
Derivation: passive participle of 7592; asked;
Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
KJV: Saul, Shaul.
n.pr.m — Saul
שָׁאוּל n.pr.m. (= asked)
1. 397 1st king of Isr.
2. a king of Edom
3. a son of Simeon
4. a Levite
H4428
n-m — king
Derivation: from 4427;
a king
KJV: king, royal.
n.m — king
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
H3478
n-pr-m — he will rule as God, Jisraël
Derivation: from 8280 and 410;
he will rule as God; Jisraël, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
KJV: Israel.
n.pr.m — Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)
1. n.pr.m. second name of Jacob
2. n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation
H834
r — who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that
Derivation: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
KJV: × after, × alike, as (soon as), because, × every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), × if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), × though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
part. of relation — who
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
adv — in which
בַאֲשֶׁר
a. in (that) which
b. adv. in (the place) where
c. conj. in that, inasmuch as
d. on account of whom?
conj — according as
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
1. according to that which, according as, as
2. with a causal force, in so far as, since
3. with a temporal force, when
adv — who
מֵאֲשֶׁר
a. from (or than) that which
b. adv. from (the place) where
c. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H1961
v — exist, be, become, come to pass
Derivation: a primitive root (compare 1933);
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
KJV: beacon, × altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.
vb — fall out
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
I.
1.
a. Fall out, happen
b. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
2. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
a.
(1). וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
(2). rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
b. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
II. Come into being, become
1.
a. abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
b. sq. prep.
2. become
a. sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
b. sq. pred. adj.
c. become like
d. sq. pred. לְ pers.
e. sq. לְ pred.
f. oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
g. with עַל and לְ
h. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
III. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
1. exist, be in existence
2. abide, remain, continue
3. with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
4. as copula, joining subj. & pred.
5. periphrastic conjug.
Niph.
1. either be done, be brought about, or occur, come to pass
2. be done, finished, gone
H854
prep — nearness, near, with, by, at, among
Derivation: probably from 579;
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.
KJV: against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix.
prep — with
אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity
1. Of companionship, together with
2. Of localities
3. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially
a. in one's possession or keeping
b. in one's knowledge or memory
4. מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
H3117
n-m — day
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to be hot;
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV: age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.
n.m — day
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
1. day, opp. night
2. Day as division of time
3. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
4. Pl. days of anyone
5. Days
6. יוֹם = time
7. Phrases
H176
conj — desire, or, if
Derivation: presumed to be the 'constructive' or genitival form of אַו ; short for 185;
desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
KJV: also, and, either, if, at the least, × nor, or, otherwise, then, whether.
conj — or
אוֹ 320 conj. or
1. sometimes implying a preference, nearly or rather
2. introducing a sentence, esp. a particular case under a general principle, or = or if
3. if perchance
4. once, with the juss. = except
H8141
n-f — year, revolution
Derivation: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from 8138;
a year (as a revolution of time)
KJV: whole age, × long, old, year(× -ly).
n.f — year
שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])
H4672
v — come, appear, exist, attain, find, acquire, occur, meet, be present
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
KJV: be able, befall, being, catch, × certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), × have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), × occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
vb — attain to
מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find
Qal
1. find
2. find out
3. = come upon, light upon
4. noteworthy phrases
Niph. pass. of Qal, be found
Hiph.
1. cause to find, attain
2. cause to light upon, come upon, come
3. cause to encounter
4. present unto
H3972
x — speck, point, nothing
Derivation: apparently a form of 3971;
properly, a speck or point, i.e. (by implication) something; with negative, nothing
KJV: fault, no(-ught), ought, somewhat, any (no-)thing.
pron.indef — anything
מְא֫וּמָה 32 pron.indef. anything
H5307
v — fall
Derivation: a primitive root;
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
KJV: be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (× hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, × surely, throw down.
vb — fall
נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie
Qal 366
1. fall, by accident
2.
a. Esp. of violent death
b. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.
c. fig. = experience calamity
d. fall, of a city
3.
a. Fall prostrate
b. fall = prostrate oneself before
c. fall upon one's neck, in embrace
4.
a. Fall upon = attack
b. desert or fall away to, go over to
5. Fig., of deep sleep
6. Other idiomatic uses
7. = lie; = lie prostrate
Hiph.
1. cause to fall
2. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction
3. Esp. of casting lot
4. Fig., let drop, cause to fail
5. cause deep sleep to fall
6. Other idioms
Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself
H5704
prep — as far, long, much, as, even unto, during, while, until, equally with
Derivation: properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or conjunction; especially with a preposition);
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
KJV: against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ( as) yet.
prep — as far as
עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while
I. prep.
1. of space
2. Of time
3. Of degree
II. conj.
1. until
2. While
3. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
III. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus
1. of space
2. Of time
3. Of degree
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Verses 1–5
1 Samuel 29:1–5
Here is, I. The great strait that David was in, which we may suppose he himself was aware of, though we read not of his asking advice from God, nor of any project of his own to get clear of it. The two armies of the Philistines and the Israelites were encamped and ready to engage, Sa1 29:1. Achish, who had been kind to David, had obliged him to come himself and bring the forces he had into his service. David came accordingly, and, upon a review of the army, was found with Achish, in the post assigned him in the rear, Sa1 29:2. Now, 1. If, when the armies engaged, he should retire, and quit his post, he would fall under the indelible reproach, not only of cowardice and treachery, but of base ingratitude to Achish, who had been his protector and benefactor and had reposed a confidence in him, and from whom he had received a very honourable commission. Such an unprincipled thing as this he could by no means persuade himself to do. 2. If he should, as was expected from him, fight for the Philistines against Israel, he would incur the imputation of being an enemy to the Israel of God and a traitor to his country, would make his own people hate him, and unanimously oppose his coming to the crown, as unworthy the name of an Israelite, much more the honour and trust of a king of Israel, when he had fought against them under the banner of the uncircumcised. If Saul should be killed (as it proved he was) in this engagement, the fault would be laid at David's door, as if he had killed him. So that on each side there seemed to be both sin and scandal. This was the strait he was in; and a great strait it was to a good man, greater to see sin before him than to see trouble. Into this strait he brought himself by his own unadvisedness, in quitting the land of Judah, and going among the uncircumcised. It is strange if those that associate themselves with wicked people, and grow intimate with them, come off without guilt, or grief, or both. What he himself proposed to do does not appear. Perhaps he designed to act only as keeper to the king's head, the post assigned him (Sa1 28:2) and not to do any thing offensively against Israel. But it would have been very hard to come so near the brink of sin and not to fall in. Therefore, though God might justly have left him in this difficulty, to chastise him for his folly, yet, because his heart was upright with him, he would not suffer him to be tempted above what he was able, but with the temptation made a way for him to escape, Co1 10:13.
II. A door opened for his deliverance out of this strait. God inclined the hearts of the princes of the Philistines to oppose his being employed in the battle, and to insist upon his being dismissed. Thus their enmity befriended him, when no friend he had was capable of doing him such a kindness. 1. It was a proper question which they asked, upon the mustering of the forces, "What do these Hebrews here? Sa1 29:3. What confidence can we put in them, or what service can we expect from them?" A Hebrew is out of his place, and, if he has the spirit of a Hebrew, is out of his element, when he is in the camp of the Philistines, and deserves to be made uneasy there. David used to hate the congregation of evil doers, however he came now to be among them, Psa 26:5. It was an honourable testimony which Achish, on this occasion, gave to David. He looked upon him as a refugee, that fled from a wrongful prosecution in his own country, and had put himself under his protection, whom therefore he was obliged, in justice, to take care of, and thought he might in prudence employ; "for (says he) he has been with me these days, or these years," that is, a considerable time, many days at his court and a year or two in his country, and he never found any fault in him, nor saw any cause to distrust his fidelity, or to think any other than that he had heartily come over to him. By this it appears that David had conducted himself with a great deal of caution, and had prudently concealed the affection he still retained for his own people. We have need to walk in wisdom towards those that are without, to keep our mouth when the wicked is before us, and to be upon the reserve. 3. Yet the princes are peremptory in it, that he must be sent home; and they give good reasons for their insisting on it. (1.) Because he had been an old enemy to the Philistines; witness what was sung in honour of his triumphs over them: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands, Sa1 29:5. "It will be a reproach to us to harbour and trust so noted a destroyer of our people; nor can it be thought that he will now act heartily against Saul who then acted so vigorously with him and for him." Who would be fond of popular praise or applause when, even that may, another time, be turned against a man to his reproach? (2.) Because he might be a most dangerous enemy to them, and do them more mischief then all Saul's army could (Sa1 29:4): "He may in the battle be an adversary to us, and surprise us with an attack in the rear, while their army charges us in the front; and we have reason to think he will do so, that, by betraying us, he may reconcile himself to his master. Who can trust a man who, besides his affection to his country, will think it his interest to be false to us?" It is dangerous to put confidence in a reconciled enemy.
Cross-references: 1Sam 29:1 · 1Sam 29:2 · 1Sam 28:2 · 1Cor 10:13 · 1Sam 29:3 · Ps 26:5 · 1Sam 29:5 · 1Sam 29:4