1 Samuel 29:6

¶ Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, [as] the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host [is] good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.

Then Achish {H397} called {H7121} David {H1732}, and said {H559} unto him, Surely, as the LORD {H3068} liveth {H2416}, thou hast been upright {H3477}, and thy going out {H3318} and thy coming in {H935} with me in the host {H4264} is good {H2896} in my sight {H5869}: for I have not found {H4672} evil {H7451} in thee since the day {H3117} of thy coming {H935} unto me unto this day {H3117}: nevertheless the lords {H5633} favour {H2896} thee not {H5869}.

So Akhish summoned David and said to him, "As ADONAI lives, you have been upright; and I myself would be more than pleased to have you go on campaign with me; because I haven't found anything wrong with you between the day you arrived and now. However, the chiefs don't trust you.

So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.

Then Achish called David, and said unto him, As Jehovah liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favor thee not.

Commentary

1 Samuel 29:6 presents a pivotal moment in David's life, highlighting the unusual trust King Achish of Gath had placed in him, despite David being an Israelite hero and a former enemy of the Philistines. This verse is part of the narrative where David, having fled from King Saul, sought refuge with the Philistines and became a vassal of Achish, residing in Ziklag.

Context

At this point, the Philistines were gathering their forces for a major battle against Israel (which would result in the deaths of Saul and Jonathan). David, having served Achish for over a year and a half (1 Samuel 27:7), was expected to join the Philistine army. This put David in an impossible moral dilemma: fight against his own people, or betray Achish's trust. Verse 6 shows Achish's personal confidence in David, even as the other Philistine lords harbored deep suspicions, ultimately leading to David's dismissal from the campaign.

Key Themes

  • Unusual Trust and Reputation: Achish's words, "thou hast been upright... I have not found evil in thee," underscore David's ability to maintain a facade of loyalty to the Philistine king, even while secretly raiding their enemies and protecting Judah. This speaks to David's cunning and the outward appearance of his conduct.
  • Divine Providence: This verse beautifully illustrates God's sovereign hand at work. Though David was in a precarious and morally compromising position, the Lord orchestrated events through the Philistine lords' distrust to prevent David from fighting against Israel. This protected David's integrity and his future role as Israel's king.
  • Conflict of Loyalties: David was caught between his sworn duty to Achish and his inherent loyalty to Israel and to God. Achish's declaration of David's goodness serves to heighten the dramatic tension of this conflict, which is then resolved not by David's choice, but by external forces.

Linguistic Insights

  • "as the LORD liveth": It is remarkable that a Philistine king would use this oath, common among Israelites. It could indicate a general adoption of local idioms, or perhaps a subtle recognition of the God of Israel's power, reflecting a broader awareness of Yahweh in the region.
  • "thy going out and thy coming in": This is a common Hebrew idiom, yetzi'ateka uvo'akha, signifying one's entire conduct, activities, or leadership. It describes comprehensive involvement and reliability, often used in military or administrative contexts (e.g., Numbers 27:17, Deuteronomy 28:6). Achish is essentially saying David's entire service has been exemplary.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that God can work through unexpected circumstances and even through the suspicions of adversaries to fulfill His purposes and protect His servants. David's reputation, though earned through complex and at times morally ambiguous means, served as a divine tool. For believers today, it highlights that even when we find ourselves in difficult or compromising situations, God remains in control, guiding our paths and protecting our ultimate calling, often by closing doors we thought we needed to walk through. It encourages trust in God's overarching plan, even when the immediate circumstances are perplexing.

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

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 19:27

    But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.

  • 2 Samuel 3:25

    Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

  • Psalms 121:8

    The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

  • 1 Samuel 20:3

    And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a step between me and death.

  • 1 Peter 3:16

    ¶ Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

  • Numbers 27:17

    Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

  • Genesis 16:6

    But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid [is] in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
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