1 Samuel 29:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →As the Philistine commanders march out by units, David and his men bring up the rear alongside Achish.
What Does 1 Samuel 29:2 Mean?
The five Philistine rulers lead their troops forward in ordered ranks, hundreds and thousands passing in review. David and his men march at the very back, in the rearguard, attached to the personal company of Achish, the king of Gath who had given David refuge. To be in the 'rereward' beside the king was a place of trust, and it shows how far David had come into the confidence of this Philistine lord.
The picture is sobering: David, the anointed of Israel, moving in step with Israel's enemies. Faithful people can find themselves entangled in alliances that compromise their calling, drawn there by fear and the long pressure of hardship. The Lord does not abandon David in this tangle but works through the events that follow to draw him out of it, a mercy that meets us too when our choices have led us further than we ever intended to go.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 29:2
What does 1 Samuel 29:2 mean?
As the Philistine commanders march out by units, David and his men bring up the rear alongside Achish.