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THE PHILISTINE PRINCES REJECT DAVID

I Samuel 29:1-11

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    THE PHILISTINES POSITION FOR BATTLE (I Sam. 29:1-2)

ii.                  THE PRINCES PROTEST DAVID’S PRESENCE (I Sam. 29:3-5)

iii.                THE KING PROHIBITS DAVID’S PARTICIPATION (I Sam. 29:6-7)

iv.                DAVID PLEADS HIS CASE (I Sam. 29:8)

v.                  ACHISH PROCLAIMS HIS DECISION (I Sam. 29:9-10)

vi.                DAVID PARTS FROM THE PHILISTINES (I Sam. 29:11)

 

2.      Where did the Philistines and Israelites encamp prior to doing battle against each other? (I Sam. 29:1)

 

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek:  and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

 

A.    Philistines:  Aphek

 

B.      Israel:  a fountain which is in Jezreel

1.      NOTE:  Being by a fountain would be a very strategic place to be located in battle.  There would be a source of refreshment for the troops.

2.      “This fountain is the present Ain Jalűd (or Ain Jalűt, i.e., Goliath's fountain, probably so called because it was regarded as the scene of the defeat of Goliath), a very large fountain, which issues from a cleft in the rock at the foot of the mountain on the north-eastern border of Gilboa, forming a beautifully limpid pool of about forty or fifty feet in diameter, and then flowing in a brook through the valley (Rob. Pal. iii. p. 168) (K&D, e-sword).

 

Image result for aphek and jezreel

 

3.      T – F    The Philistines had hundreds of fighting men for this battle. (I Sam. 29:2)

 

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands…

 

A.    True

 

4.      Where were David and his men at this time? (I Sam. 29:2)

 

... but David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.

 

A.    They were in the rear with king Achish

 

5.      What did the Philistine princes initially ask Achish? (I Sam. 29:3)

 

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here?

 

A.    What do these Hebrews here?

 

B.      This is a sensible question to ask. 

1.      The Philistines were about to go to war with Hebrews.

2.      Why would a person have Hebrews in their midst while fighting the Hebrews?

 

6.      How did Achish answer the princes? (I Sam. 29:3)

 

…And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, and servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me this day.

 

A.    He first identified him as David, the servant of Saul.

 

B.      He then notes of the longevity of their time together, “these days, or these years.”  This statement indicates considerable amount of time.

 

C.     Finally, he testifies that he had found no fault in David at any time during his stay with the king.

1.      Strong (3972) says that the word “fault” means speck or point.

2.      Achish had not found even the most minute thing which could be used against David and his loyalty to him.

 

7.      T – F    The princes were glad that Achish brought David to the battle. (I Sam. 29:4)

 

And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him…

 

A.    False, they were wroth with Achish

 

B.      Wroth

1.      Strong (7107):  to burst out in rage

2.      BDB:  to be displeased, to be wroth, to be full of wrath, to be furious

 

C.     LESSON:  A person’s relationship with an individual impacts his perception of the individual.

1.      Achish had a close, warm relationship with David.  He judged him based on that.

2.      The princes did not have a close relationship with David.  They only knew who he was, David the servant of Saul.  They judged him on that relationship.

 

 

8.      Why did the princes want David to leave the battle? (I Sam. 29:4)

 

…and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us…

 

A.    The princes believed that in the midst of the battle David would become their adversary.

 

B.      Remember, David has six hundred fighting men.  If he were in the midst of the Philistine army and defected, he could cause a tremendous problem for the Philinstines.

 

9.      How did they think David might reconcile himself to Saul? (I Sam. 29:4)

 

…for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master?  should it not be with the heads of these men?

 

A.    David had been at odds with Saul.  It may be that David would want to reconcile with him.

 

B.      What better way to reconcile than to deliver the heads of Saul’s enemies into his hand?

 

10.  What did the princes remind Achish that had been said of David? (I Sam. 29:5)

 

Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

 

A.    David has slain his ten thousands.

 

B.      Those ten thousands were Philistines too.  One of the slain, Goliath, was a native of Gath, the city over which Achish was king.

 

11.  When Achish approached David about this matter, what three things did he first say to David? (I Sam. 29:6)

 

Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the Lord liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and 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…

 

A.    Thou has been upright

1.      Definition:

a.      Strong (3477):  straight

b.      BDB:  straight, correct, right, fitting, proper

2.      Little did he know that David had not be “straight” with him at all times.

 

B.      Thy going out and coming in with me in the host is good in my sight.  (NOTE:  He only knew of David’s going out and coming in based on David’s testimony).

 

C.     For I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day.

 

12.  “…nevertheless the lords favor thee not” (I Sam. 29:6)

 

A.    Strong (2896):  good

 

B.      BDB:  valuable in estimation

 

C.     The princes do not think David’s presence is good and valuable.

 

13.  “Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines” (I Sam. 29:7)

 

A.    Achish honors his princes and their advice over his relationship with David.  He could have overridden his princes, but he did not.

 

B.      LESSON:  A wise leader values his advisors and his constituents more than those on the outside.  Had Achish refused the advice of his princes, he could have caused turmoil within his armed forces.

 

14.  T – F    David said nothing to Achish, but simply returned to the land of the Philistines. (I Sam.

29:8).

 

And David said unto Achish…

 

A.    False

 

B.      Was David sincere in his words?  Or, was he continuing to play the part before Achish?

 

15.  What was David’s argument for allowing him to remain and fight in the battle? (I Sam. 29:8).

 

… But what have I done?  And what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

 

A.    David argued that there was nothing he had done while with Achish that should have prohibited him from going with him into battle.

 

16.  To what did Achish compare David? (I Sam. 29:9)

 

And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God…

 

A.    As an angel of God

 

B.      Angels are beings who are close to God.  They serve as His ministers.  They are loyal to carry out the commands of God. 

 

C.     David’s actions toward Achish mimicked the angels actions toward God.

 

17.  T – F    Achish was going to side with his princes rather than David in this matter. (I Sam. 29:9)

 

…notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

 

A.    True

 

18.  When was David commanded to leave? (I Sam. 29:10)

 

Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master’s servants that are come with thee:  and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.

A.    He and his men were to arise with the king’s servants before the sun rose.  At that time, they could finish loading all they need to take with them for their departure.

 

B.      At the break of day, when there was light, they were to depart.

 

19.  T – F    David refused to leave the field of battle. (I Sam. 29:11)

 

So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning…

 

A.    False

 

B.      David did the king’s bidding and left the field of battle.

 

C.     David’s departure was providential from two stand points.

1.      “It was in the order of God’s gracious providence that the Philistine lords refused to let David go with them to this battle. Had he gone, he had his choice of two sins - First, If he had fought for the Philistines, he would have fought against God and his country. Secondly If he had in the battle gone over to the Israelites, he would have deceived and become a traitor to the hospitable Achish. God, therefore, so ordered it in his mercy that he was not permitted to go to a battle in which he was sure to be disgraced, whatever side he took, or with what success soever he might be crowned” (Clarke, e-sword).

2.      “It is impossible not to recognize here a merciful interposition of Providence, by which David was not only saved from fighting against his king and country, but sent home just in time to recover his wives and property from the Amalekites 1 Sam. 30” (Barnes, e-sword).

 

20.  To which place did David return? (I Sam. 29:11)

 

…to return into the land of the Philistines.  And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

 

A.    He and his men returned into the land of the Philistines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE AMALEKITES BURNED ZIGLAG (1)

I Samuel 30:1-15

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    I SAMUEL 30:1-2

ii.                  I SAMUEL 30:3-6

iii.                I SAMUEL 30:7-8

iv.                I SAMUEL 30:9-10

v.                  I SAMUEL 30:11-15

 

2.      On what day, did David return to Ziklag? (I Sam. 30:1)

 

3.      Who had smitten Ziklag and burned it with fire? (I Sam. 30:1)

 

4.      Who did the Amalekites take captive? (I Sam. 30:2)

 

5.      T – F    The Amalekites did not slay anyone in the city. (I Sam. 30:2)

 

6.      What three groups of people did David and his men find had been taken captives? (I Sam. 30:3)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

7.      T – F    David and his men wept till they had no more power to weep. (I Sam. 30:4)

 

8.      T – F    Both of David’s wives were taken captive. (I Sam. 30:5)

 

9.      What was another thing that caused David to be distressed? (I Sam. 30:6)

 

10.  Why did they want to kill David? (I Sam. 30:6)

 

11.  How did David get through that difficult time? (I Sam. 30:6)

 

12.  What did David ask Abiathar to bring to him? (I Sam. 30:7)

 

13.  T – F    The ephod could not be found in the camp of the Israelites. (I Sam. 30:7)

 

14.  What questions did David ask of the ephod? (I Sam. 30:8)

 

15.  What was the Lord’s answer to David’s questions? (I Sam. 30:8)

 

16.  To what place did David and his six hundred men go before some were left behind? (I Sam. 30:9)

 

17.  How were the six hundred spilt up? (I Sam.30:10)

 

18.  Why did two hundred stay behind? (I Sam. 30:10)

 

19.  Who was found in a field? (I Sam. 30:11)

 

20.  What was given to the Egyptian to eat? (I Sam. 30:11-12)

 

21.  How long had it been since he had eaten? (I Sam. 30:12)

 

22.  When the Egyptian revived, what question did David ask him? (I Sam. 30:13)

 

23.  What was his answer? (I Sam. 30:13)

 

24.  Why had this servant of the Amalekites been left behind? (I Sam. 30:13).

 

25.  What four places had they invaded? (I Sam. 30:14)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

D.

 

26.  What was David’s second question to the Egyptian? (I Sam. 30:15)

 

27.  What two things had to be promised to the Egyptian before he would bring David and his men to the company of the Amalekites? (I Sam. 30:15)

 

A.

 

B.