SCRIPTURE: 1 SAMUEL 29
ACHISH SENDS DAVID BACK TO ZIKLAG (VS. 1-11)
The Philistines gathered their forces at Aphek while the Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. When the Philistine rulers were marching with their units, they saw David and his men marching with Achish. Then the Philistine commanders would not allow David to join them for fear of betrayal. Achish had to abide by the decision of the Philistine commanders, so he told David not to go up with them to the battle. Early in the morning, David and his men went back to the land of the Philistines.
THOUGHTS:
The other Philistine commanders knew that David was the one who killed their champion Goliath and had killed hundreds of Philistine soldiers. He was the hero of Israelites’ victory song. They were afraid that while in the battle, David might turn against them. God used the commander’s suspicion to keep David from having to fight against Saul and his countrymen.