1 Samuel 27 10

1 Samuel 27:10 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 27:10 nkjv

Then Achish would say, "Where have you made a raid today?" And David would say, "Against the southern area of Judah, or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites."

1 Samuel 27:10 niv

When Achish asked, "Where did you go raiding today?" David would say, "Against the Negev of Judah" or "Against the Negev of Jerahmeel" or "Against the Negev of the Kenites."

1 Samuel 27:10 esv

When Achish asked, "Where have you made a raid today?" David would say, "Against the Negeb of Judah," or, "Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites," or, "Against the Negeb of the Kenites."

1 Samuel 27:10 nlt

"Where did you make your raid today?" Achish would ask. And David would reply, "Against the south of Judah, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites."

1 Samuel 27 verses

1 Samuel 27 10 Meaning

1 Samuel 27:10 details David's deceptive answer to King Achish of Gath, who inquires about the target of David's latest raid. David falsely claims to have raided territories in the southern region ("Negeb") belonging to or closely associated with Judah, including areas of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites. This fabrication was a calculated strategy to maintain Achish's trust and support, convincing the Philistine king that David was actively hostile to his own people, while in reality, David was attacking enemies of Israel (as described in 1 Samuel 27:8), thereby protecting Judah.

1 Samuel 27 10 Context

Chapter 27 of 1 Samuel finds David in a desperate situation, relentlessly pursued by King Saul. Having twice spared Saul's life (in chapters 24 and 26), David eventually despairs of finding safety within Israel. He flees with his 600 men and their families to Gath, a prominent Philistine city, seeking refuge under the enemy king Achish. Achish grants David the town of Ziklag as his base (1 Sam 27:5-7). From Ziklag, David conducts raids on local groups in the Negeb, the semi-arid southern region. Crucially, 1 Samuel 27:8 specifies that David actually attacked the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites – traditional enemies of Israel. However, when King Achish questions him about his raiding activities, David fabricates a report (as seen in 1 Samuel 27:10) to maintain the façade of a mercenary who has completely alienated himself from Israel. This act of deception is key to his continued survival and ability to operate within Philistine territory, while secretly acting in Israel's interests by weakening its foes.

1 Samuel 27 10 Word analysis

• Then Achish said, "Where (אָן, 'an) have you made a raid (פָּשַׁט, pashat) today (הַיּוֹם, hayyom)?"

  • Achish (אׇכִישׁ): The Philistine king of Gath. His repeated interaction with David shows his trust and reliance on David as a military asset. He sees David as a defector from Israel who will now serve Philistine interests.
  • Where have you made a raid today?: A direct and specific inquiry. Achish isn't just making polite conversation; he expects a report of David's military activities, which should benefit the Philistines by weakening their enemies (Israel). The urgency of "today" highlights the regular expectation of such expeditions and reports.
  • raid (פָּשַׁט, pashat): This term implies a sudden, swift military expedition with the aim of plundering and seizing territory or resources. It was a common tactic in ancient warfare, especially among border communities and semi-nomadic groups.

• And David said, "Against the Negeb (נֶגֶב, negev) of Judah (יְהוּדָה, Yehudah), and against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites (הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִי, hayyerahme'eli), and against the Negeb of the Kenites (הַקֵּינִי, haqqeyni)."

  • Negeb (נֶגֶב, negev): Literally "south" or "dry land." This geographical term refers to the semi-arid region south of Judah, a borderland. It was strategically significant due to its position between settled Israel, the Philistine plain, and various nomadic tribes, making it a frequent battleground and a plausible target for raids.
  • Judah (יְהוּדָה, Yehudah): David's own tribe and a key part of Israel. Claiming to have raided Judahite territory was the ultimate confirmation of David's supposed disloyalty to his people, from Achish's perspective. David's lie implies he has burned his bridges with Israel.
  • Jerahmeelites (הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִי, hayyerahme'eli): Descendants of Jerahmeel, a grandson of Judah (1 Chr 2:9, 25-27). Though linked to Judah, they likely lived in a specific region of the southern Negeb and may have functioned somewhat independently. Including them in his lie reinforced the idea that David was targeting Israel's kinsmen.
  • Kenites (הַקֵּינִי, haqqeyni): A nomadic or semi-nomadic clan, distinct from Israel but historically linked (e.g., Moses' father-in-law Jethro). They settled in areas like the Negeb of Arad (Jg 1:16) and lived among Judah (1 Sam 15:6). Mentioning them would also suggest David was targeting groups closely associated with or residing among Israel, thus further solidifying his alleged enmity towards his own people in Achish's mind.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Then Achish said, 'Where have you made a raid today?'": This interrogation reveals Achish's interest in leveraging David's fighting force. It sets the stage for David's response and highlights the strategic context of their relationship, based on perceived loyalty and mutual benefit.
  • "And David said, 'Against the Negeb of Judah, and against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negeb of the Kenites.'": This full response is David's deliberate act of deception. By specifying these particular groups in "the Negeb," David creates a convincing lie that implies he has turned irrevocably against his own nation. This detailed lie is crafted to achieve a crucial goal: to ensure the continued security of his refuge in Ziklag while simultaneously protecting his people by raiding actual enemies (1 Sam 27:8-9), rather than those he claimed. This shows David's pragmatic intelligence in a desperate situation.

1 Samuel 27 10 Bonus section

• The 16-month period David spends in Ziklag (1 Sam 27:7) under Achish's protection is often viewed as a challenging and ambiguous time in David's life, raising questions about his faith and actions. While some see it as a strategic retreat divinely orchestrated, others see it as a period of less direct reliance on God compared to his earlier wilderness escapes from Saul.
• David's meticulous destruction of "man or woman" (1 Sam 27:9) and his taking of flocks, herds, camels, donkeys, and garments, then his return to Achish, points to his determination to leave no survivors to expose his deceit. This level of ruthlessness, while common in ancient warfare for self-preservation, further illustrates the severity of his deceptive plan.
• The narrative serves as a powerful reminder that biblical figures, even those deeply devoted to God like David, were imperfect. Their lives, recorded faithfully, include their failures, misjudgments, and ethically complex actions, demonstrating God's consistent ability to work through flawed humanity.

1 Samuel 27 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 27:10 captures a moment of calculated deception by David, an action that challenges simplistic interpretations of his character. Living in exile among the Philistines to escape Saul, David faces a moral tightrope walk. His strategic raids are vital for securing resources and maintaining his fighting force. However, his reports to Achish are masterfully crafted lies. He claims to have attacked areas and peoples associated with Israel – the Negeb of Judah, Jerahmeelites (a clan within Judah), and Kenites (Israelite allies) – when in reality, he targets their actual enemies (Amalekites, Geshurites, Girzites).

This episode illustrates David's extraordinary cunning and resourcefulness under duress. He successfully misleads Achish, securing his safe haven and allowing him to strengthen his military prowess without genuinely betraying his own nation. From a spiritual perspective, this passage presents David not as a faultless hero, but as a complex human being, navigating extreme circumstances. While the Bible elsewhere condemns lying (Prov 12:22), this narrative describes David's actions as a means of survival and, arguably, as providentially utilized to preserve the future king of Israel. It shows that God can work through the flawed decisions and desperate measures of His chosen servants to bring about His greater purposes, ultimately protecting His covenant people.