29:1 The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel. 

 

Aphek was the same location where the Philistines had defeated Israel earlier. At this location, the Philistines took the Ark of Covenant. Jezreel was on the flank of Mount Gilboa.  It was an excellent location for the chariots and iron weapons of the Philistines. It will be the future battle location of the Battle of Armageddon.

 

2 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. 

 

David was placed in a tough situation. He could not be loyal both to King Achish and Israel. It is interesting to note that David joined King Achish on his own volition. He did not seek supernatural assistance from God on this decision.

 

3 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!” 

 

The other Philistine leaders did not want to go to war with David in their camp. King Achish trusted David.

 

4 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?

 

The other Philistine leaders outvoted King Achish.

 

5 Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced,  ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands’?” 

 

Even David’s military prowess was recognized by the enemy.

 

6 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.

 

King Achish broke the news to David.

 

7 So turn and leave in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!” 

 

God’s sovereignty pulled His anointed king out of this predicament.

 

8 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?” 

 

David protested, but he was most likely relieved that God removed him from this battle.

 

9 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.’ 

 

The Hebrew for “the Angel of God” is מַלְאַ֣ךְ אֱלֹהִ֑ים (melek elohim), meaning the angel of the Triune Creator God. Many pagans knew the name of Israel’s God, but they did not believe in Him.

 

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.” 

 

The Hebrew word for “lord” is אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ (adonai-ka), meaning “your master." Jehovah was the God of David, but He was not the God of King Achish. To pagans, Jehovah was just one god of many.

 

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.  

 

Jezreel was a major battlefield for many nations. It will be the future battle ground of the Battle of Armageddon. It is a large fertile valley today. Whether or not David should have ever joined himself with the Philistines at all is very questionable, but at least God providentially kept him from fighting his own people.