David Sent Back Home from the War

1 Samuel 29:1-11

Key Verse 29:11

“ So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.”

Until now, David disguised himself as a faithful servant of Achish, king of Gath.  However, he had to side with the Philistines when the war between Philistine and the Israelites broke out and participated in the march along the Philistine army against the Israelites. However, David was saved from fighting his own people, the Israelites, and he could avoid his  involvement in the defeat of the Israelites by the Philistine army and in death of king Saul and his sons including Jonathan.

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Read verses 29:1-3. Where do the Philistines and the Israelites gather their respective forces? (1)  As the Philistine rulers march with their units, where are David and his men? (2) What is the concern of the commanders of the Philistines? (3a) How does Achish respond to their concerns? (3b)

Read verses 29:1-3.

The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. ² As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. ³ The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”

 

Where do the Philistines and the Israelites gather their respective forces? (1)

The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.   

As the Philistine rulers march with their units, where are David and his men? (2)

As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish.

David and his men acted as a vassal of Achish, so he and his army followed Achish and his armay.

What is the concern of the commanders of the Philistines? (3a)

The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?”. They knew Hebrews were their enemies.

 

How does Achish respond to their concerns? (3b)

Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”

David disguised his true nature very well and Achish trusted him. 

 

 

2.  Read verses 29:4-7. What do the Philistine commanders say to Achish? (4)  What reminder do they give to Achish about David’s past? (5) What did Achish say to David? (6)  What does he order David to do? (7)

 

Read verses 29:4-7. 

⁴ But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? ⁵ Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands’?” ⁶ So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. ⁷ Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

What do the Philistine commanders say to Achish? (4) 

⁴ But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 

They did not trust David and concerned that he would revolt in the midst of  the battle.

What reminder do they give to Achish about David’s past? (5) 

⁵ Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands,  and David his tens of thousands’?”  

They remembered David’s exploit in the past against the Philistines and his popularity among the Israelites.

What did Achish say to David? (6) 

⁶ So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you.  

What does he order David to do? (7)

⁷ Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

He could not resist the pressure by the other Philistine rulers.

3.  Read verses 29:8-11. What is David’s response to Achish’s command? (8) How does Achish answer David? (9) What does Achish tell David to do? (10) What happens the next day? (11)  

Read verses 29:8-11.

⁸ “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

⁹ Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ ¹⁰ Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.” ¹¹ So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

What is David’s response to Achish’s command? (8) 

⁸ “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

He  claimed his innocence and showed his eagerness to fight against the Israelites.

How does Achish answer David? (9) 

⁹ Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 

What does Achish tell David to do? (10)

¹⁰ Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.”

 

What happens the next day? (11)  

¹¹ So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

So God helped David avoid fighting against his own people and he was clean from participating in the killing of king Saul, Jonathan and his sons.

In conclusion, David tried to survive by disguising himself as a vassal of Achish, but he faced the possibility of fighting against his own people, the Israelites. However, God helped him to keep from fighting the Israelites.

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