1 Samuel 29:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; 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: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The commanders angrily demand that David be sent home, fearing he will turn against them in battle to win back Saul's favor.
What Does 1 Samuel 29:4 Mean?
The Philistine commanders refuse Achish's reassurance and grow angry. Send David back to the town you assigned him, they insist, and do not let him into the battle, for he might turn on us in the thick of the fight. They reason shrewdly: what better way for David to reconcile himself to his old master Saul than by the heads of Philistine soldiers? Their distrust is sharp and, though they do not know it, closer to the truth than Achish's confidence.
Here the hand of God becomes visible behind human suspicion. David is being delivered from an unbearable choice, whether to fight against his own people or to betray the king who trusted him, and the deliverance comes through the wrath of men. Scripture shows again and again that the Lord can use the fears and schemes of others to keep His servants from sin. What looks like rejection is, in truth, rescue.
1 Samuel 29:4 in the Original Language
adversary -- the Hebrew word here is satan (שָׂטָן), an 'adversary' or opponent, the same term that elsewhere names the great accuser.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 29:4
What does 1 Samuel 29:4 mean?
The commanders angrily demand that David be sent home, fearing he will turn against them in battle to win back Saul's favor.