1 SAMUEL LESSON 30


     We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 27:1 "And David said in his
heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: [there is]
nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land
of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more
in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand."

     Even though the encounters with Saul had been victorious for
David, he still felt that, sometime, Saul would be able to capture
him. There was just so much area here for David to hide in, and Saul
knew of those places. Perhaps, David was a little afraid that Saul's
cruelty might cause him to finally kill Saul. David did not want to do
this, because Saul was anointed of God. David, now, has two wives to
think of, as well as himself. He believes Saul will forget him, if he
goes to another country to live. David would rather face his enemies,
the Philistines, than to chance killing Saul.

     I Samuel 27:2 "And David arose, and he passed over with the six
hundred men that [were] with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king
of Gath."

     David had sought and found refuge with Achish of Gath. The last
time that David was here, he did not have the 600 men and their
families with them. Now, they are a force to be reckoned with. The
king showed more respect for David this time.

     I Samuel 27:3 "And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his
men, every man with his household, [even] David with his two wives,
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife."

     The fact that they all had their families with them, made it
evident they had moved from their homeland to Gath. David brought both
of his wives, as well. David's wife, Michah, was given by Saul to
another man. David had married Abigail, after God killed Nabal. We
have not learned much about Ahinoam at this point, except that she was
from Jezreel. She and Abigail will be captured in a war with the
Amalekites. David will rescue them. She is, also, the mother of
David's first son, Amnon.

     I Samuel 27:4 "And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath:
and he sought no more again for him."

     It was not so much that David had fled to Gath, that stopped Saul
from pursuing him. It was the fact that David, all of his men, and
their families have gone to Gath. Saul would not invade the
Philistines to chase David down, either. For the time being, Saul
feels that he is not threatened by David.

     I Samuel 27:5  "And David said unto Achish, If I have now found
grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the
country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in
the royal city with thee?"
     It is not explained in detail, why Achish allowed David to live
in peace with the Philistines. We do, however, know that the
Philistines were enemies of Saul. They might have thought that David
would help them fight Saul. It could have, also, been a fear of David.
They knew that something had caused David and his 600 men, to be able
to avoid capture by Saul's chosen 3,000 men. David speaks of himself,
as servant to Achish in the verse above. We know it would have been a
great expense to care for this large mass of people with David. Part
of the request for a city, was so David and his men could support
their families themselves. Other than that, they would not be
constantly watched by Achish's men.

     I Samuel 27:6 "Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore
Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day."

     This seemed to be a very good idea by Achish, and he gave David
and his men Ziklag. Ziglag was a town in the Negeb. It was originally
in the south country of Judah. Up until the time of the Babylonian
captivity, it remained part of Judah.

     I Samuel 27:7 "And the time that David dwelt in the country of
the Philistines was a full year and four months."

     This seemed to be a time of peace and rest from war. The scholars
all argue about the time that David was in the land of the
Philistines. It is not important the length of time, for our study
here. We do know, that it was a period of rest.

     I Samuel 27:8  "And David and his men went up, and invaded the
Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those [nations
were] of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even
unto the land of Egypt."

     The Geshurites lived in the high country. The Amalekites,
Gezrites, and the Geshurites were Bedouins, who were wanderers.

     I Samuel 27:9 "And David smote the land, and left neither man nor
woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and
the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish."

     This attack was strictly to sustain his men and their families.
Of course, the groups mentioned were heathen people, and God had told
the Israelites long ago to destroy them off the land. The animals were
saved as food and industry for David's men. When David returned to
Achish, it was, probably, to share the spoil with Achish. When you
have just received a gift, it is difficult to find fault with the gift
giver.

     I Samuel 27:10 "And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to
day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south
of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites."

     The question that is asked of David by Achish is, where he had
fought today? It seemed, the raids on the evil people occured often.
The people David mentioned above, are of Judah. The Kenites were in
alliance with Judah. David did not tell exactly the truth here.

     I Samuel 27:11 "And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to
bring [tidings] to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying,
So did David, and so [will be] his manner all the while he dwelleth in
the country of the Philistines."

     David killed all the people, so they would not be able to come
and report to Achish, that they were not from Judah at all. David knew
the Philistine would have to attack him, if they knew who he had
killed. David was dwelling in the land of the Philistines, but they
were his enemies.

     I Samuel 27:12 "And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made
his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my
servant for ever."

     David had Achish believing that the people he killed were
Israelites. Achish knew the hatred would be turned to David, if he had
killed his own people. Achish felt that David would fight with him
against the Israelites. He felt safe, while David lived near him. He
felt that David could not go home now, so he would have David to serve
him.






























                        1 Samuel 30 Questions


1.  In verse 1, what did David say in his heart?
2.  Where did David go?
3.  What does the author believe were some of the reasons David gave
    himself for doing this?
4.  How many men went with David?
5.  Who was king of Gath at this time?
6.  Who were the wives of David?
7.  What did it prove, when they all had their wives with them?
8.  Who is Abigail?
9.  What are the few things we know about Ahinoam?
10. Who killed Nabal?
11. What is the name of David's first son?
12. Why did Saul stop pursuing David?
13. What did David ask Achish for?
14. What advantage would this be to Achish?
15. What advantage would this be to David?
16. What did Achish give David?
17. How long does verse 7 say, that David stayed here?
18. Who did David and his men attack?
19. All three groups of people were __________.
20. Who did David and his men kill?
21. What did they take away with them?
22. Who did David share the spoil with?
23. What question did Achish ask David?
24. Who did David tell Achish, that he had attacked?
25. Why did someone not report on David?
26. Why did Achish feel safe, while David lived near him?