1 Samuel 27 8

1 Samuel 27:8 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 27:8 nkjv

And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. For those nations were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt.

1 Samuel 27:8 niv

Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.)

1 Samuel 27:8 esv

Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt.

1 Samuel 27:8 nlt

David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites ? people who had lived near Shur, toward the land of Egypt, since ancient times.

1 Samuel 27 verses

1 Samuel 27 8 Meaning

David and his men, while residing in Ziklag under Philistine patronage, launched raids against various indigenous groups inhabiting the southern regions near the wilderness. The verse specifies these targets as the Geshurites, Gezrites, and Amalekites, explaining that these were ancient tribes who dwelt in the land extending from the vicinity of Shur towards Egypt. These expeditions served David's dual purpose: to provide provisions for his large company and to maintain a façade of attacking Israelite-allied areas, thereby deceiving Achish of Gath. In reality, he was raiding nations hostile to both Israel and potentially the Philistines.

1 Samuel 27 8 Context

This verse is situated in a crucial period of David's life, shortly before Saul's death. David, relentlessly pursued by King Saul, seeks refuge and a tactical alliance with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, settling in Ziklag. This move places David in a morally ambiguous position: he is now a vassal of Israel's sworn enemy. However, David's true allegiance remains with God and Israel. He needs to provide for his large company of loyal men, but also avoid direct confrontation with Israelite territory as part of his deceitful allegiance to Achish. Therefore, his strategy is to raid the tribes living on the fringes of Israel, who were perennial enemies or disputed inhabitants of the land. By attacking these groups, David secured provisions while reporting to Achish that he had attacked Judah or other allied tribes, maintaining his pretense and the trust of the Philistine king. This passage highlights David's cunning and pragmatism, as well as the difficult choices faced during his time of exile and the complex political landscape of the ancient Near East.

1 Samuel 27 8 Word analysis

• And David and his men: Identifies the protagonists. "His men" highlights the significant company that followed and relied on David's leadership and provision.
• went up: Hebrew: עָלָה (alah), meaning "to go up," "ascend." Implies moving upwards from the lowlands of Philistia or simply setting out on an expedition or raid, often into higher or more remote terrain.
• and invaded: Hebrew: פָשַׁט (pashat), meaning "to strip," "raid," "make a sudden attack," "plunder." This verb vividly describes the aggressive and predatory nature of these military expeditions, aiming for spoils and disruption, distinct from full-scale conquest.
• the Geshurites: Hebrew: הַגְּשׁוּרִי֙ (ha-Geshuri). Refers to a tribal group residing in the southern desert areas of Canaan (Negeb), distinct from the Geshur in the north-eastern Galilee (e.g., 2 Sam 3:3). They were inhabitants on the southern borders.
• and the Gezrites: Hebrew: וְהַגִּזְרִי֙ (v'ha-Gizhri). Also known as the Girzites or Gezites, they were another ethnic group in the southern wilderness or Negeb. They were nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes inhabiting the contested borderlands.
• and the Amalekites: Hebrew: וְהָֽעֲמָלֵקִ֔י (v'ha-Amaleqi). A highly significant and ancient enemy of Israel (e.g., Ex 17, Deut 25, 1 Sam 15). They were nomadic desert raiders, often attacking Israelite camps and settlements. Their inclusion here carries deep theological weight due to God's decree against them, suggesting David, even in this complex situation, acted against God's ultimate enemies.
• for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land: Hebrew: כִּי־הֵנָּה֙ יֹשְׁב֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵעוֹלָם֙ (ki henna yoshvoth ha'aretz me'olam). The phrase "of old" (מֵעוֹלָם, me'olam) signifies their ancient and long-established presence in these territories. This is the narrator's commentary, providing context for why these specific groups were present in the area and thus suitable targets for David's raids. It indicates they were not recent invaders but part of the existing geopolitical landscape.
• as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt: Hebrew: כְּבוֹאֲךָ֤ שׁוּר֙ וְעַד־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם (k'vo'akha Shur v'ad eretz Mitzrayim). These are geographical markers defining the southern reach of the territory inhabited by these tribes. The "Wilderness of Shur" (Ex 15:22) lies east of Egypt, a desert region that formed a natural boundary or corridor for movement. "Unto the land of Egypt" further delineates the deep south, reinforcing the remoteness and the hostile nature of these territories. This passage emphasizes that these targets were not Israelite, securing David's deception with Achish.

1 Samuel 27 8 Bonus section

The moral implications of David's deception (1 Sam 27:9-12, following this verse) are noteworthy. While the narrative describes David's actions without explicit condemnation, neither does it present them as examples of ideal faith or God-given instruction. Instead, they demonstrate David's resourcefulness and political acumen in a perilous situation. The choice to attack these particular groups also strategically aligns with God's long-standing judgment against such nations, particularly the Amalekites. This dual effect—serving David's practical needs and God's larger agenda against the enemies of Israel—shows how God can orchestrate events even through the less-than-perfect actions of His chosen servants. The verse underscores the brutal realities of life in the wilderness margins and the continuous threat posed by nomadic or semi-settled tribes on the borders of more organized societies.

1 Samuel 27 8 Commentary

1 Samuel 27:8 vividly illustrates David's pragmatic yet morally ambiguous strategy during his exile under Achish. Faced with the immediate need to provide for his large retinue and maintain a fragile alliance with a Philistine king, David resorted to raiding, targeting traditional enemies of Israel like the Amalekites, as well as other nomadic tribes in the southern fringes of the land. This approach was ingenious in its deception, allowing David to gain resources without attacking Judah or its allied tribes, thus upholding his true loyalty while satisfying Achish with false reports of such attacks. The inclusion of the Amalekites is particularly significant; by targeting them, David, perhaps unconsciously or providentially, continued the divinely mandated conflict against Israel's ancient adversary, a task Saul had famously failed to complete. The passage thus reveals God's overarching providence, working through David's complex decisions to preserve him and advance His purposes, even amidst human deceit and cunning.