David goeth again to Achis king of Geth, and obtaineth of him the city of Siceleg.
Dauid for more securitie goeth againe to Achis king of Geth, 5. obtaineth of him the citie of Siceleg, (6. by which meanes it becometh subiect to the kinges of Iuda) 8. and maketh prayes vpon the enemies of King Achis.
1And David said in his heart: I shall one day or other fall into the hands of Saul: is it not better for me to flee, and to be saved in the land of the Philistines, that Saul may despair of me, and cease to seek me in all the coasts of Israel? I will flee then out of his hands.Ma David diceva in cuor suo: Io cadrò o prima, o dopo nelle mani di Saul: non è egli meglio ch'io fugga, e mi salvi nel paese dei Filistei, affinchè Saul perduta ogni speranza, finisca di andar cercandomi per tutto il paese d'Israele? fuggirò adunque dalle sue mani.AND Dauid sayd in his hart: at length I shal fal one day into the handes of Saul: is it not better that I flee, and be saued in the Land of the Philistians, that Saul may despaire, and cease to seeke me in al the coastes of Israel? I wil flee therefore his handes.Et ait David in corde suo: Aliquando incidam una die in manus Saul: nonne melius est ut fugiam, et salver in terra Philisthinorum, ut desperet Saul, cessetque me quærere in cunctis finibus Israël ? fugiam ergo manus ejus. 2And David arose, and went away, both he and the six hundred men that were with him, to Achis, the son of Maoch, king of Geth.E David si mosse, e coi secento uomini, che eran seco, andò a trovare Achis figliuolo di Maoch, re di Geth.And Dauid arose, and went himselfe, and the six hundred men with him, to Achis the sonne of Maoch, the King of Geth.Et surrexit David, et abiit ipse, et sexcenti viri cum eo, ad Achis filium Maoch regem Geth. 3And David dwelt with Achis at Geth, he and his men; every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Achinoam, the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel.E David fece sua dimora con Achis in Geth, egli, e la sua gente, ciascuno colla sua famiglia, ed erano con David le sue due mogli. Achinoam di Jezrael, e Abigail vedova di Nabal del Carmelo.And Dauid dwelt with Achis in Geth, he and his men; euerieman & his house, and his two wiues, Achinoam the Iezrahelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel.Et habitavit David cum Achis in Geth, ipse et viri ejus: vir et domus ejus: et David, et duæ uxores ejus, Achinoam Jezrahelitis, et Abigail uxor Nabal Carmeli. 4And it was told Saul that David was fled to Geth, and he sought no more after him.E Saul riseppe, come David era fuggito in Geth, e non si mosse più per cercarlo.And it was told Saul that Dauid was fled into Geth, and he added no more to seeke him.Et nuntiatum est Sauli quod fugisset David in Geth, et non addidit ultra quærere eum.
5And David said to Achis: If I have found favour in thy sight, let a place be given me in one of the cities of this country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?Ma David disse ad Achis: Se io ho trovata grazia negli occhi tuoi, siami dato luogo in una delle città di questa regione per abitarvi: imperocché a qual fine starà teco il tuo servo nella città del re?And Dauid sayd to Achis: If I haue grace in thy sight, let there a place be geuen me in one of thy cities of this countrie, that I may dwel there: for why abideth thy seruant in the citie of the king with thee?Dixit autem David ad Achis: Si inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, detur mihi locus in una urbium regionis hujus, ut habitem ibi: cur enim manet servus tuus in civitate regis tecum ? 6Then Achis gave him Siceleg that day: for which reason Siceleg belongeth to the kings of Juda unto this day.Achis pertanto gli assegnò subito Siceleg, e in questo modo Siceleg diventò città de' regi di Giuda, com'è anche adesso.Achis therefore gaue him in that day Siceleg: for which cause Siceleg became the kinges of Iuda vntil this day.Dedit itaque ei Achis in die illa Siceleg: propter quam causam facta est Siceleg regum Juda usque in diem hanc. 7And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was four months.E il tempo che David passò nel paese de' Filistei fu di quattro mesi.And the number of the daies, that Dauid dwelt in the country of the Philistians, was foure monethes.Fuit autem numerus dierum quibus habitavit David in regione Philisthinorum, quatuor mensium. 8And David and his men went up, and pillaged Gessuri, and Gerzi, and the Amalecites: for these were of old the inhabitants of the countries, as men go to Sur, even to the land of Egypt.E David si mosse colla sua gente, e mettevano saccomanno Gessuri, e Gerzi e gli Amaleciti: perocché quei borghi in quel paese erano abitati anticamente sulla strada di Sur sino al paese di Egitto.And Dauid went vp, and his men, and draue prayes out of Gessuri, and Gerzi, and from the Amalecites: for these villages were inhabited in the land in old time, as men goe to Sur, as farre as the Land of Aegypt.Et ascendit David et viri ejus, et agebant prædas de Gessuri, et de Gerzi, et de Amalecitis: hi enim pagi habitabantur in terra antiquitus, euntibus Sur usque ad terram Ægypti. 9And David wasted all 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 Achis.E David desolava tutto quel paese, e non vi lasciava vivo nè uomo, nè donna: e prendendo le pecore, e i bovi, e gli asini, e i cammelli, e le suppellettili, se ne tornava a trovare Achis.And Dauid stroke al the land, neither left he anie man or woman: and taking the sheepe & oxen, and asses, & camels, and garments, he returned & came to Achis.Et percutiebat David omnem terram, nec relinquebat viventem virum et mulierem: tollensque oves, et boves, et asinos, et camelos, et vestes, revertebatur, et veniebat ad Achis.
10And Achis said to him: Whom hast thou gone against to day? David answered: Against the south of Juda, and against the south of Jerameel, and against the south of Ceni.E Achis diceagli: In qual parte hai tu oggi portata la guerra? Rispondea David: Verso la parte meridionale di Giuda, verso la parte meridionale di Jerameel, e verso la parte meridionale di Ceni.And Achis sayd to him: Whom hast thou set vpon to day? Dauid answered: Against the south of Iuda, and against the south of Ieremiel, and against the south of Ceni.Dicebat autem ei Achis: In quem irruisti hodie ? Respondebat David: Contra meridiem Judæ, et contra meridiem Jerameel, et contra meridiem Ceni. 11And David saved neither man nor woman, neither brought he any of them to Geth, saying: Lest they should speak against us. So did David, and such was his proceeding all the days that he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.David non lasciava la vita a nissun uomo, o donna, nè alcuno ne conduceva Geth, dicendo: Potrebbero parlare contro di noi. Così fece David; e questo fu il suo costume per tutto il tempo che abitò nel paese de' Filistei.Dauid gaue life neither to man nor woman, neither brought them into Geth, saying: Lest perhaps they speake against vs. These thinges did Dauid, and this was decreed of him al the daies that he dwelt in the countrie of the Philistians.Virum et mulierem non vivificabat David, nec adducebat in Geth, dicens: Ne forte loquantur adversum nos: Hæc fecit David: et hoc erat decretum illi omnibus diebus quibus habitavit in regione Philisthinorum. 12And Achis believed David, saying: He hath done much harm to his people Israel: Therefore he shall be my servant for ever.Per la qual cosa Achis avea fidanza in Davidde, e diceva: Egli ha fatto gran male al suo popolo d'Israele: ei sarà dunque per sempre mio servo.Achis therefore did credite Dauid, saying: Manie euils hath he wrought against his people Israel: Therefore he shal be my seruant for euer.Credidit ergo Achis David, dicens: Multa mala operatus est contra populum suum Israël: erit igitur mihi servus sempiternus.
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Year of the World 2947.
Du Hamel
Hands. God requires that we should act with prudence. (Du Hamel)
Du Hamel
David probably consulted the Lord, and sent ambassadors to Achis, before he went into his dominions, (Menochius) where he had been in such danger before. (Du Hamel)
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Maoch, or Maacha, 3 Kings 2:29. This king had perhaps seen David, when he counterfeited madness. But now he was convinced that, by granting him protection, he would greatly annoy Saul, and draw many brave men out of his dominions.
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Household. They were aware of the cruelty of Saul. The names of these valiant men are specified, 1 Paralipomenon 12:1., etc.
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Country, less peopled, and more remote from the sea.
With thee. David was attended like a king, so that he wished to avoid giving umbrage to Achis, and, at the same time, keep his own men at a greater distance from the contagious morals of the idolaters.
27:6
Day. This was written some time after the death of Samuel.
Siceleg belonged at first to Juda, and was afterwards given to the tribe of Simeon, till it fell into the hands of the Philistines, and being restored by them to David, was considered afterwards as the property of the kings of Juda. It lay not far from Horma, Josue 19:4.
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Calmet
Months. Hebrew, "days and four months." The former expression denotes a year; though some would have it, that David remained "four months and a few days" in the country. He probably continued so many months at Geth, (ver. 9, 11,) and about a year at Siceleg. (Calmet)
Du Hamel
Septuagint have "days, four months;" and Salien adopts that term. (Haydock) See 1 Kings 29:3. (Du Hamel)
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Challoner
Pillaged Gessuri, etc. These probably were enemies of the people of God; and some, if not all of them, were of the number of those whom God had ordered to be destroyed; which justifies David's proceedings in their regard. Though it is to be observed here, that we are not under an obligation of justifying every thing that he did: for the Scripture, in relating what was done, doth not say that it was well done. And even such as are true servants of God, are not to be imitated in all they do. (Challoner)
Calmet
The nations of Chanaan, who inhabited as far as Egypt, and the Amalecites, who had escaped the arms of Saul, were devoted to destruction, Exodus xvii., etc. In such cases, any man might fall upon them, without any other formal declaration of war. (Calmet)
Menochius
There was another Gessuri of Syria, in the tribe of Manasses, across the Jordan. (Menochius)
Calmet
The country which these people inhabited, to the south of Palestine, was afterwards depopulated by the kings of Egypt and of Syria, in their continual wars, so that many of the cities which are mentioned in Scripture, were never known to profane geographers. (Calmet)
Menochius
St. Jerome, (Trad.) Sa, and others, think that David attacked some of the Philistines. But it is as probable at least that he would abstain from molesting them, who had so generously afforded him an asylum. Salien concludes, that he did not attack the other nations, (except the Amalecites, who were sufficiently marked out for destruction, Deuteronomy 25:19,) without consulting the Lord, by the high priest, as he was accustomed to do in every difficulty. (Salien, the year of the world 2979) (Menochius)
Haydock
They all dwelt in part of the land of Chanaan, (Worthington) which was sufficient. (Haydock)
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Abulensis
Apparel. Saul alone had been ordered to destroy all the property of Amalec. (Abulensis)
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Jerameel, the son of Esron, inhabited the most southern parts of Juda.
Haydock
Ceni, or the Cinites, descendants of Jethro, (Calmet) who dwelt at Arad and the environs. The words of David might signify that he attacked these people of Israel, as Achis understood him; or that he made inroads upon those who dwelt to the south of them, which was really the case. (Haydock)
Menochius
At his return, he passed by Siceleg, where he left the spoil, carrying some of the choicest things, as a present, to Achis. (Menochius)
Salien
But he suffered none of the human race to be carried away captive, lest any of them might disclose the true state of affairs to the king, who might have apprehended that the injured nations would make an attack upon his dominions. (Salien)
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Calmet
Harm. Hebrew, "he hath made himself stinking (an object of horror) to his people." A strong expression used, Genesis 34:30., and Exodus 5:21. (Calmet)
Haydock
Septuagint, "he is quite covered with confusion." Achis supposed that David had thus forfeited all his pretensions to dwell among, much less, to reign over Israel: so that he might keep him always in his service. (Haydock)
Theodoret
In the mean time, Saul was exterminating the people of Gabaon, which brought a pestilence on Israel, 40 years after. (Theodoret)
Salien
He perhaps supposed that the oath of Josue had not been yet put in execution, as it ought to be, herein indulging too much his cruel temper. (Salien)
27:8
Pillaged Gessuri, etc.... These probably were enemies of the people of God: and some, if not all of them, were of the number of those whom God had ordered to be destroyed: which justifies David’s proceedings in their regard. Though it is to be observed here, that we are not under an obligation of justifying every thing that he did: for the scripture, in relating what was done, does not say that it was well done. And even such as are true servants of God, are not to be imitated in all they do.
27:8
These countries were neither subiect to the Philistijms not to the Israelites, and were also of those nations whom God had cōmanded to dest•roy, dwelling within the land of Chanaan. Deut, 25.
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1. ONE DAY I SHALL FALL INTO THE HANDS OF SAUL. — For although David himself was anointed king by God through Samuel, yet this was only on the condition that he himself would survive King Saul. Or David thought that by this anointing and promise of God he could be cut off through his sins, so that by God's permission he would fall into the hands of Saul, and be cut off from the kingdom and life, as Saul had been cut off. Thus Abulensis.
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2. AND DAVID AROSE AND WENT, HE AND SIX HUNDRED MEN WITH HIM, TO ACHIS THE SON OF MAOCH, KING OF GATH, — which was one of the five cities and satrapies of the Philistines. This is Achis, to whom David had fled before, chapter xxi, and fearing the accusations of the Philistines before him, feigning himself mad, he had escaped free. Now indeed he did not fear this, because it was now everywhere even in Philistia an inveterate and continual hatred of Saul toward David: wherefore Achis feared nothing from David, now that he was known, indeed he hoped to use him as a faithful leader against Saul his enemy.
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3. AND DAVID DWELT WITH ACHIS IN GATH, HE AND HIS MEN; EACH MAN AND HIS HOUSE. — From Gath, they were called Gathites, most faithful and strongest soldiers of David, because namely they had followed him fleeing to Gath, and dwelt with him there. They were therefore by origin Jews, not Gathites and Philistines; for it is expressly said in verse 2 that these six hundred men fled from Judaea with David to Gath.
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5. WHY THEN DOES YOUR SERVANT REMAIN IN THE CITY OF THE KING WITH YOU? — David desired to be separated from Achish and his court for many reasons. First, so that he could make sorties more freely against the Philistines and Amalekites; second, so that he might spare the shame to his wives and his soldiers; third, lest his soldiers be corrupted by the arrogance of courtiers, gluttony, luxury, and especially by infidelity and idolatry.
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6. ACHISH THEREFORE GAVE HIM ZIKLAG ON THAT DAY. — "Ziklag" was a city that first fell by lot to the tribe of Judah, Joshua chapter 15, verse 31; then given to the tribe of Simeon, Joshua chapter 19, verse 5; afterwards occupied by the Philistines. Moreover, Ziklag in Hebrew is the same as the straitness of a measure, as Pagninus says, and this fits aptly to this place. For David dwelt there with his soldiers, laboring under the straitness of food and drink.
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7. AND THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT DAVID DWELT IN THE REGION OF THE PHILISTINES WAS FOUR MONTHS. — In Hebrew it is said he dwelt days and four months, that is, for a year and four months. But others commonly say that David dwelt with Achish only four months and some days. For this is what the common Latin version requires, and therefore Abulensis, Serarius, Salianus and others hold this opinion.
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8. AND HE MADE PLUNDERS OF THE GESHURITES AND OF THE GIRZITES AND OF THE AMALEKITES. — The inhabitants of "Geshur," as well as "Girzites" and "Amalekites" were enemies of Israel, and therefore David justly made plunders of them.
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9. HE LEFT NO ONE ALIVE, MAN OR WOMAN. — David had the right from the law in Deuteronomy chapter 20, which commands that all the inhabitants of the land promised by God to the Hebrews be killed. David therefore, as it were the leader of Israel's war authorized by Saul, had public authority to do all these things and to execute God's commands. Thus Abulensis, Cajetan and others.
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10. AGAINST WHOM HAVE YOU MADE AN INROAD TODAY? DAVID ANSWERED: AGAINST THE SOUTH OF JUDAH. — David lies, saying he has made an inroad against the enemies of Judah, the king Achish's enemies, when he had made an inroad against the Philistines, Canaanites and Amalekites, the allies of Achish. This lie was an officious one, which David thought necessary to protect his life.
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12. ACHISH THEREFORE BELIEVED DAVID. — It was remarkable that from so many disasters and slaughters of the Philistines inflicted by David, nothing reached the ears of King Achish. Humanly it could scarcely have happened; but God, who directed all of David's works, likewise directed these things so that Achish learned nothing. For just as He sent sleep upon all the camp of Saul to save David, chapter 26, verse 12; so here He sent, as it were, inadvertence and blindness upon Achish and all the courtiers.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
27:1
… Saul defeated them several times and drove them back from the mountain to the plain (1 Sam. 13-14; 17); but in the hard decisive battle near Mount Gilboa he was defeated, and took his own life (1 Sam. 31; 2 Sam. 1). David, who, having fled from Saul's court, had stayed for some time at Gath (1 Sam. 27:1-7) offering his services to King Achish, maintained good relations with the P. at the beginning of his reign, but then, having occupied the strong city of Jerusalem (Jebus) and united …
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Geth (Hebrew Gath, Akkadian Gimtu, "Winepress")
… BIBLE): Josh. 11:22; 1 Sam. 17:4; 2 Sam. 21:19 ff.; 1 Chron. 20:6. It was punished for having kept the ark of Yahweh, which spread death there (1 Sam. 5:7-10; 6:17). David took refuge there twice when persecuted by Saul (1 Sam. 21:11-16; 27:2-11), with King Achish (v.).
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… This contrast is wonderfully documented by the well-known episode of Saul, who, after having promulgated a severe law against such diviners, has recourse to a necromancer to evoke the spirit of Samuel (1 Sam. 27:3 ff.).
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… For this reason it also remained afterward "property of the crown" of the kings of Judah; David remained there 16 months (1 Sam. 27:5 ff.) until it was put to the flames by the Amalekites (ibid. 30:1 ff.).
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Simeon (Heb. Šim'ôn; Gr. Symzōn)
… 12:25). But already in this period, and ever more frequently afterward, the cities that had belonged to S. are counted as Judean: Bethel, Ramoth in the south, Arama, Ashan (1 Sam. 30:27-30), Beersheba (2 Sam. 24:7; 1 Kings 19:3; 2 Kings 23:8), Ziklag (1 Sam. 27:6), etc. (cf. 1 Chron. 4:28-31).
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Amalecites (Heb. Amaleq; Vulgate [Septuagint] Amalec and Amalecites)
… Saul defeated them with their king Agag (v.) "from Havilah as far as Shur, which is opposite Egypt," destroying them almost completely (I Sam. 15:2-9). David too, first on the commission of the Philistine king Achish (I Sam. 27:8), then to recover the persons who had been carried off (I Sam. 30:1-20), led victorious expeditions against the A. from Ziklag. …
2. From Josh. 13:2 and I Sam. 27:8 the existence of the Geshurites appears, a small Amalekite kingdom south of Philistia and east of the Egyptian frontier. …
… In the list of Shoshenq I at Karnak one finds Iurahma and Iurhem, which represent the Hebrew I. David gave Achish of Gath to believe that he was raiding the Jerahmeelites (1 Sam. 27:8 ff.), while instead he sent them a share of the booty taken from the enemies of Judah (1 Sam. 30:29).
On the road to S. the Angel of the Lord found Hagar in flight (Gen. 16:7); Abraham passed through it in descending into Egypt (ibid. 20:1). The name returns in the expression "from Havilah as far as S. opposite Egypt" or "on the frontier of Egypt" (I Sam. 15:7; 27:8) and indicates the residence of the descendants of Ishmael and of Amalek.
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.