1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

104 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editionof David's failure to seek guidance from the Lord before moving back into Philistineterritory. David's strength continued to grow as Saul's continued to wane. In these lastchapters of 1 Samuel the writer moved back and forth first describing David's activities,and then Saul's, then David's, and then Saul's. This technique puts the fates of the twomen in stark contrast side by side. Thus the book closes with the narrative contrasttechnique with which it opened in which the writer contrasted Samuel and Eli's sons.David's return to Philistia 27:1—28:2David's relocation to Ziklag 27:1-7Was it God's will for David to leave Israel and move to Philistia? The text does not say,but there are indications that lead me to believe that he should not have done this eventhough he must have felt almost forced to do it. First, there is the statement that Davidconsulted with himself, but he had previously asked God for guidance in prayer (cf. 23:2,4). Second, David said he believed he would die if he remained in Israel. Yet Samuel hadanointed him as Israel's next king (16:13), Jonathan had said twice that David would beking (18:4; 23:17), as had Saul (24:20; 26:25), and so had Abigail (25:30). Saul's mostrecent statement about this occurs in the verse immediately preceding verse one. Third,the name of God does not appear in this chapter suggesting that David did not get hisguidance from the Lord. David's faith in God's ability to keep him safe seems to havelapsed temporarily. The stress and strain of his hide-and-seek existence with no end inview seem to have worn on David. In addition, he had another wife to take care of now(25:42). This led him to seek refuge from Saul in Philistia again (cf. 21:10-15). This wasonly a weakness in trust, however, not disobedience to the revealed will of God.Why would David have been welcome in Philistia? Probably Achish and the otherPhilistine lords rejoiced to see the rift that existed between David and Saul."Without David, Saul lacked military leadership sufficient to eliminate thePhilistine threat; without Saul, David lacked a power base from which tooperate." 292"Secondly, Achish realized that as soon as David did attack his ownpeople, he would lose for ever the possibility of changing sides." 293Consequently Achish was willing for David and his men to live in Philistia, apparently asmercenaries (cf. 2 Sam. 10:6; 15-18-22). Gath stood about 27 miles west-northwest ofZiph. David's move was a fairly major relocation of his forces and his family (v. 3); heevidently planned to stay in Philistia until God disposed of Saul. Since David nowenjoyed Philistine protection, Saul no longer searched for him. Saul would have had totake on the Philistines to get to David, and Saul did not want to do that. David must havelooked like the frustrated leader of an ineffective coup d'état to Achish. Anyone who wasthe enemy of Saul was the friend of Achish. David pretended to be more of a servant toAchish than he really was (v. 5).292 Merrill, Kingdom of . . ., p. 219.293 David Payne, p. 140.