1 Samuel 29 2

1 Samuel 29:2 kjv

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.

1 Samuel 29:2 nkjv

And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish.

1 Samuel 29:2 niv

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

1 Samuel 29:2 esv

As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish,

1 Samuel 29:2 nlt

As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish.

1 Samuel 29 verses

1 Samuel 29 2 Meaning

This verse describes the movement of the Philistine forces assembling for battle against Israel. It specifically notes the structured deployment of the Philistine military under their regional lords, organized in their typical units of hundreds and thousands. Within this formidable array, David and his small contingent of men are seen marching at the very rear of the procession, accompanying King Achish, his immediate Philistine overlord. This position highlights David's continued allegiance to Achish in appearance and his physical proximity to the Philistine king, even as it sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation about his loyalty that immediately follows in the narrative.

1 Samuel 29 2 Context

The narrative of 1 Samuel 29:2 finds David in a precarious and ethically complex position. He had been fleeing from King Saul for years and, out of desperation, had sought refuge with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, along with his 600 men. For a year and four months, David deceived Achish by pretending to raid Israel's enemies while actually raiding hostile desert tribes, bringing the spoil to Achish and claiming he had attacked the southern parts of Judah. Achish was completely convinced of David's loyalty and trusted him implicitly, even to the point of inviting David and his men to join the Philistine army in a major campaign against Israel.

Chapter 29 opens with the Philistine forces gathering at Aphek, preparing to move against the Israelites, who were encamped at Jezreel. This verse specifically details the organization and initial movement of the Philistine military. David, who has agreed to accompany Achish to battle, is shown physically present within the enemy's ranks, outwardly committed to fighting against his own people. This context is critical because it highlights the extreme moral dilemma David faced and how divine providence would intervene to resolve it, ensuring David would not lift his hand against Israel or against the Lord's anointed, Saul, in this decisive battle where Saul and Jonathan would die.

1 Samuel 29 2 Word analysis

• And the lords: Hebrew: v'sarnei (וְסַרְנֵי֙). The term sarne (סַרְנֵי֙) refers specifically to the Philistine rulers or princes, indicating their unique confederated political structure. These were the five regional rulers (e.g., of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), who acted together in military matters. Their collective power is emphasized.
• of the Philistines: Referring to the traditional enemies of Israel, who often engaged in conflicts, asserting their power and control over neighboring territories.
• passed on: Hebrew: `āberim (עָבְרִ֑ים), from the root `ābar, meaning "to pass over," "to pass through," "to cross." Here it signifies their organized movement or marching forward. It indicates a steady progression.
• by hundreds, and by thousands: Hebrew: bammē’ōṯ ūlā’lāpîm (בַּמֵּא֣וֹת וּלְאֲלָפִ֑ים). This is a common Hebrew idiom used to denote large numbers and the structured division of military forces. It emphasizes the vast scale and well-ordered nature of the Philistine army. This signifies a formidable and well-organized fighting force.
• but David and his men: A stark contrast is drawn here. Despite the massive Philistine host, David's smaller, distinct unit is singled out, highlighting his unique, yet problematic, position. It points to David's limited control over his own destiny at this moment, seemingly bound by his alliance with Achish.
• passed on: Same Hebrew verb `ābar (עָבַ֣ר) as earlier, reinforcing that David's group was indeed part of the larger movement.
• in the rereward: Hebrew: bā’aḥărôn (בָּאַחֲר֖וֹן), literally "in the rear," or "last." This position refers to the rear guard of a marching army. The rereward traditionally serves to protect the main body from attack from the rear, or sometimes it refers to a place where non-combatants, supplies, or special trusted units might be located. For Achish to have David here implies both a measure of trust (for protecting the rear) and perhaps a measure of control, keeping David close to him.
• with Achish: Hebrew: ‘im ’āḵîš (עִ֤ם אָכִישׁ֙). This specifies David's direct proximity to the Philistine king. It underlines the strong personal bond and trust Achish placed in David, distinguishing David's position from that of other ordinary Philistine troops.

Words-group Analysis:

• "The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands": This phrase immediately establishes the military might and unified purpose of Israel's adversaries. It sets the scale of the impending conflict and underscores the powerful forces David outwardly aligned with.
• "but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish": This powerfully illustrates David's highly compromising and morally perilous situation. He is fully integrated into the enemy's marching formation, physically aligned with those preparing to fight his own nation. His placement "in the rereward with Achish" shows both Achish's complete confidence in David and also provides the geographical proximity for the subsequent confrontation by the other Philistine lords regarding David's presence. More importantly, this specific positioning, later seen as the point of dismissal, allowed divine providence to ensure David did not participate in the catastrophic battle against Israel.

1 Samuel 29 2 Bonus section

The positioning of David "in the rereward" may also serve as a literary device foreshadowing his ultimate separation from the Philistine army. While Achish fully trusted David, the distrust from the other Philistine lords, articulated in the very next verse, ultimately causes David's removal from the campaign. His place in the rear made it easy for him to turn back without affecting the primary battle formations. This seemingly minor tactical detail in the military march thus becomes a key element in God's protective and providential care for David, saving him from a grievous choice.

1 Samuel 29 2 Commentary

1 Samuel 29:2 offers a concise yet crucial snapshot of David's extreme predicament. By positioning David within the Philistine army, marching towards battle against Israel, the text emphasizes the gravity of his choices and the theological tension of his current role. David, the future king of Israel and a man after God's own heart, finds himself outwardly bound to the enemies of his people, forced to simulate loyalty.

The detailing of the "hundreds and thousands" highlights the sheer size and organization of the Philistine army, further underscoring the formidable opponent Israel faced. David's placement "in the rereward with Achish" is multi-faceted. On one hand, it shows Achish's profound trust, assigning David to a position that required reliability for protecting the rear. On the other hand, from a divine perspective, it was precisely this position that put David at the fringe of the main battle group, making his dismissal by the other Philistine lords more practical and less disruptive. This seemingly minor detail of military formation reveals the subtle but powerful hand of God orchestrating events. It divinely protects David from directly participating in the fight against Saul, his king and the Lord's anointed, and ensures he bears no guilt for the defeat of Israel. The Lord sovereignly utilized David's precarious situation to remove him from an impossible ethical conflict, paving the way for his eventual righteous ascent to the throne of Israel, unstained by bloodshed against his own brethren.