1 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.

And David {H1732} smote {H5221} the land {H776}, and left neither man {H376} nor woman {H802} alive {H2421}, and took away {H3947} the sheep {H6629}, and the oxen {H1241}, and the asses {H2543}, and the camels {H1581}, and the apparel {H899}, and returned {H7725}, and came {H935} to Achish {H397}.

David would attack the land, leaving alive neither men nor women, but taking the sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and clothing. Then he would return and go to Akhish.

Whenever David attacked a territory, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but he took the flocks and herds, the donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he would return to Achish,

And David smote the land, and saved neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel; and he returned, and came to Achish.

Commentary

1 Samuel 27:9 describes a military campaign led by David while he was living as a refugee in the land of the Philistines, under the patronage of King Achish of Gath. This verse highlights David's strategic and ruthless actions against specific nomadic groups in the region.

Context

At this point in the narrative, David was fleeing from King Saul's relentless pursuit, which threatened his life. He had sought asylum with Achish, the Philistine king, who granted him the town of Ziklag as his dwelling. To maintain his cover and prove his loyalty to Achish, David undertook raiding expeditions. However, instead of attacking Israelite or allied territories as Achish believed, David strategically targeted hostile groups like the Geshurites, Gezrites, and Amalekites. This verse details the extreme measure taken in one such raid, ensuring no survivors remained to reveal his true targets to Achish.

Key Themes

  • Survival and Deception: David's actions in this chapter, and particularly in this verse, exemplify his shrewdness and desperate measures for survival. He masterfully deceived King Achish, presenting the plunder as if it came from raids against Judah or its allies, thereby solidifying his position and protection among the Philistines.
  • The Brutality of Ancient Warfare: The phrase "left neither man nor woman alive" starkly illustrates the harsh realities and common practices of warfare in the ancient Near East. Such complete eradication was often employed to prevent retaliation, eliminate witnesses, or secure resources without future contest. It underscores the grim necessities and ethical complexities faced by leaders in that era.
  • Moral Ambiguity of a Biblical Hero: This passage presents a challenging aspect of David's character. While he is often celebrated as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14), his actions here are morally complex and raise questions, even within a biblical framework. It highlights that biblical figures, even those chosen by God, were flawed individuals navigating difficult and often violent circumstances.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "smote the land" translates the Hebrew verb Χ ΦΈΧ›ΦΈΧ” (nakah), which means to strike, smite, or hit, often with destructive force. When combined with the subsequent phrase, "left neither man nor woman alive," it conveys a complete and utter defeat of the targeted groups, leaving no survivors. This was a deliberate military tactic employed to ensure the total incapacitation of an enemy and to prevent any intelligence from reaching Achish about David's true activities.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a reminder that biblical narratives truthfully portray the lives of real people, including their struggles, compromises, and moral complexities. When reflecting on this passage, consider:

  • God's Use of Imperfect People: God often works through flawed human beings to accomplish His divine purposes. David's journey to becoming king over all Israel was not without morally challenging decisions and actions.
  • Discerning Biblical Narratives: Not every action recorded in the Bible is presented as a moral command or an example to emulate. The Bible describes what happened, allowing readers to grapple with the realities of human behavior and the challenging contexts in which people of faith lived. It encourages a careful distinction between descriptive accounts and prescriptive teachings.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 15:3

    Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

  • 1 Samuel 15:7

    And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah [until] thou comest to Shur, that [is] over against Egypt.

  • Genesis 25:18

    And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the presence of all his brethren.

  • Genesis 16:7

    ΒΆ And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

  • Joshua 6:21

    And they utterly destroyed all that [was] in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

  • Exodus 15:22

    ΒΆ So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

  • Deuteronomy 25:17

    Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;
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