1 Samuel 29 9

1 Samuel 29:9 kjv

And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

1 Samuel 29:9 nkjv

Then Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'

1 Samuel 29:9 niv

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.'

1 Samuel 29:9 esv

And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'

1 Samuel 29:9 nlt

But Achish insisted, "As far as I'm concerned, you're as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.

1 Samuel 29 verses

1 Samuel 29 9 Meaning

Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, affirms his complete personal trust and high regard for David, acknowledging his conduct as pleasing and upright, comparable to an angel of God. Despite this personal conviction, Achish explains that the collective decision of the Philistine commanders, who mistrusted David, has overruled him, preventing David from accompanying them to battle against Israel. This providentially saves David from the moral dilemma of fighting against his own people and the Lord's anointed, Saul, ensuring his path to the throne is preserved without defilement.

1 Samuel 29 9 Context

First Samuel chapter 29 finds David in a precarious position. After fleeing from King Saul, he had sought refuge with the Philistine king Achish in Gath, becoming his vassal. David spent over a year and four months residing in Philistine territory, seemingly raiding enemies of Judah but actually attacking traditional foes of Israel (like the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites), all the while leading Achish to believe he was making himself detestable to his own people, Israel. As 1 Samuel 29 opens, the Philistines are gathering their forces at Aphek to wage war against Israel. Achish fully trusts David and his men, desiring them to accompany him into battle. This verse details Achish's verbal assurance to David of his loyalty and integrity, expressing regret that the other Philistine commanders, citing David's past successes against them (like slaying Goliath and defeating Philistine armies), insist he cannot join their forces, fearing he would turn against them during the battle. This internal Philistine disagreement ultimately prevents David from facing the horrific choice of fighting against Israel and Saul.

Historically, the Philistines operated as a pentapolis (five major cities), with each "lord" or saren having significant military and political authority. Achish, as king of Gath, was one of these sarenim. Their collective decision, overriding Achish's personal will, highlights the fragmented leadership and strategic caution of the Philistines when faced with someone as formidable and unpredictable as David, whom they rightly saw as a past threat. The scene implicitly shows God's hidden hand at work, maneuvering the hearts and minds of pagan leaders to prevent David from committing an act that would disqualify him as Israel's future king.

1 Samuel 29 9 Word analysis

• And Achish answered and said to David,: Standard narrative conjunction introducing Achish's direct response to David's expressed desire to fight (1 Sam 29:8).
• I know that you are good in my sight,:
  • I know: Hebrew yada`, conveying personal knowledge, conviction, and assuredness. Achish truly believed in David's integrity and loyalty to him.
  • good in my sight: Hebrew yashar be'einai. The word yashar means straight, upright, proper, or pleasing. It signifies moral correctness and sincerity from Achish's perspective. It implies more than mere competence; it's an affirmation of character as he perceived it. This high praise underscores the depth of Achish's trust, though built on David's strategic deception.
• like an angel of God.:
  • angel of God: Hebrew mal'akh Elohim. This phrase does not mean David was literally an angel, but serves as a strong metaphor. In biblical literature, "angel of God" or "angel of the LORD" often signifies a divine messenger or one associated with divine wisdom, purity, discerning judgment, or possessing exceptional qualities (e.g., 2 Sam 14:17, 14:20). Achish uses it to convey David's exceptional quality, perhaps his integrity, trustworthiness, reliability, or simply his perceived blamelessness in Achish's service. For a pagan king to use such a term shows remarkable respect and admiration, indicating David's profound impact and skilled management of this difficult alliance.
• Nevertheless,: This adverb signals a strong contrast or opposition to the preceding statement. Achish's personal conviction is about to be contradicted by an external, authoritative decision. It marks the pivot from personal regard to political reality.
• the commanders of the Philistines have said,:
  • commanders of the Philistines: Hebrew sarenim. This refers to the five lords or rulers of the Philistine pentapolis (Gath, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron). They wielded significant collective power, capable of overriding even the king of Gath. Their decision was a unified military and political mandate.
  • have said: Emphasizes that this is a definitive declaration and a final decision, not a suggestion.
• 'He shall not go up with us to battle.': The direct, unambiguous command that removes David from the Philistine ranks. This collective Philistine suspicion of David, born of his past prowess against them, becomes God's instrument to preserve David's moral and future kingship. It prevents David from engaging in a fratricidal war against his own nation and the Lord's anointed, Saul, a direct answer to a seemingly impossible situation.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "I know that you are good in my sight, like an angel of God.": This phrase encapsulates Achish's absolute trust and profound admiration for David, built upon David's carefully orchestrated deception over more than a year. It portrays David as exceptional, perhaps beyond human fault in Achish's eyes, highlighting the Philistine king's conviction in David's loyalty.
  • "Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to battle.'": This powerful contrast demonstrates the conflict between Achish's personal judgment and the collective will of the other Philistine lords. This group decision, rooted in deep suspicion of David's past loyalties and fears of betrayal, becomes the pivotal act of divine providence. It highlights the often unseen ways God intervenes in human affairs through the decisions of powerful individuals, even enemies.

1 Samuel 29 9 Bonus section

• Theological Irony: It's profoundly ironic that David, who had been deliberately deceiving Achish by attacking tribes not allied with Achish and creating the impression of raiding Judahite towns, is described by the very man he is deceiving as being "like an angel of God" for his supposed integrity. This highlights God's ability to use complex human situations, even involving strategic maneuvering, to serve His purposes.
• Prevented Sin: This verse depicts a divine "closed door" to prevent David from committing a grave sin. It's a clear instance where human decisions (the Philistine commanders' distrust) serve as God's means to guide His chosen one away from spiritual and moral peril.
• Echoes of Wisdom/Discernment: The phrase "angel of God" is typically reserved for someone of immense wisdom and discernment in Israelite thought. For Achish to apply this to David indicates that David's character and perceived reliability truly impressed the Philistine monarch, despite David's hidden agenda.

1 Samuel 29 9 Commentary

This verse encapsulates a pivotal moment for David, illustrating divine providence operating through human mistrust. Achish's extraordinary praise of David as "good" and "like an angel of God" signifies David's exceptional ability to maintain his deceptive allegiance to the Philistine king, gaining absolute trust from his overlord. This commendation from a pagan king underscores David's unique character and capacity to navigate dangerous circumstances. Yet, it is the pragmatic and well-founded suspicion of the other Philistine commanders, who remember David's victories against them, that ultimately determines David's exclusion from the battle. This human opposition, rooted in past enmity, becomes God's direct means of delivering David from an morally indefensible position. Had David gone to battle, he would have been forced to fight either against Israel (betraying his heritage and anointing) or against Achish (betraying his oath), jeopardizing his integrity and future kingship. The disagreement among the Philistine leaders serves God's larger plan, ensuring David is preserved without blemish, prepared to assume the throne of Israel, not having raised his hand against the Lord's anointed or his own people. This event emphasizes God's sovereign control over even the seemingly autonomous decisions of nations and their leaders, using their internal conflicts and fears to achieve His perfect will for His chosen servant.