The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 502

ing that if he followed him in to Philistine CHAPTER XXVII. territory he would provoke a war, for which DAVID AGAIN SEEKS PROTECTION AT GATH he was not now preparecl. It has been (vers. 1-4). Ver. 1.-David said in his pointed out that David probably introduced heart. Hebrew, "to his heart," to himself from Gath the style of music called Gittith (sea eh. L 13). I shall perish by the hand. (Ps. viii., lxxxi., lxxxiv., titles). The verb is that used in eh. xii. 25 ; x__wi. ACHISH ASSIG:--'.S ZIKLAG TO DAVID AS A 10, but instead of by the hand the Hebrew RESIDE::-rCE (vers. 5-7). Vers. 5, 6.-If I has into the hand. Hence the versions gen- have now found grace in thine eyes. Now erally render it, "I shall some day fall in to is not an a,lverb of time, hut means "1 the hand." Really it is a prregnans con- pray," i. e. If verily I have found favour sti-uctio: "l shall perish by falling into the with thee. David's position was one of hand of Saul." It was the second treaeherv difficulty. The fame of his exploits, and of the Ziphites which made David feel that, of Saul's vain pnrsuit of him, made Achish surrounded as he was by spies, there was no no cloubt regard him as a bitter foe of the safety for him but in taking that course to Israelite king, and expect valuable assistance which, as he so sorrowfully complained to from him ; whereas Dal'id was unwilling Saul, his enemies were driving him (eh. to take up arms e.-en against S(Lul, and much xxvi. 19). His words there show that the less agaiust his own countrymen. He is thought of quitting Judrea was already in his auxious, therefore, to get away from a too mind, so that this chapter follows naturally close observation of his nets, and requests on ch.xxvi., and not, as some have argued, Achish to give him a place in some town in upon eh. xxiv. the country. Hebrew, "a place in one of Vers. 2-4.-Achish, the son of Maoch. the cities in the field." Why should thy No doubt the Achish of eh. xxi. 10; but if servant, &c_ Da~irl's presence with so large a the same as Achish, son of Maachah, in 1 following must in many miys have been incon- Kings ii. 39, as is probably the case, he must venient as well as expensive to Achish. In have lived to a good old age. As it is said some small country town David and his men in 1 Chron. xviii. 1 that David conquered the would maintain themselves. Achish accord- Philistines, nnd took from them Gath aml ingly gives him Ziklag, a small plo.ce assignetl other towns, it would seem that he still first of all to Judah (Josh. xv. 31), but permitted Achish to remain there as n tribu- subsequently to Simeon (ibid. xix. 6). Its tary king, while Ziklag he kept as his private exact position is not known. It seems tu property (ver. 6). On the former occasion, have been valued by David's successors, as when David was alone, Achish had paid it is noted that it still belonged unto the him but scant courtesy ; but now that he kings of Judah. This phrase proves th,1 t c1tmc with 600 warriors, each with his the Book of Samuel must have been corn- household, and, therefore, with numerous piled ut a date subsequent to the revolt of followers, he shows him e,·ery respect, and Jeroboam, whilo tho concluding words, unto for the time David and his men settle at this day, equally plainly indicato a ,late Gath, aml Saul gives over his pnr~uit know- prior to the Babylonian exile.  512 THE FIRST IlOOK OF SAMUEL. [cu. XXVII. 1-12