1 samuel 29:8 - David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
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What does "1 samuel 29:8" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 29:8 is part of a larger story in which David finds himself in a very tricky situation. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: David and his men are living among the Philistines, having fled from Saul's persecution in Israel. He has sought refuge with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, and has successfully convinced Achish of his loyalty. The Philistines are now preparing to go to war against Israel.
"David said to Achish, 'But what have I done?'": This is David's feigned or, more cynically, carefully worded protest. He pretends to be surprised and concerned about Achish's decision to exclude him from fighting against Israel. The question is rhetorical, designed to emphasize his apparent commitment to Achish.
"What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?'": This is the key part of the verse. David is essentially saying:
"I've been loyal and obedient to you, Achish, for a long time." ("so long as I have been before you to this day")
"What have I done to make you doubt my loyalty now?" ("What have you found in your servant...")
"Why wouldn't you let me fight against your enemies, the enemies of my lord the king (Achish)?"
Deception: David is being duplicitous. He doesn't want to fight against his own people, the Israelites. His aim is to maintain Achish's trust while avoiding having to harm Israel. He's trying to maneuver himself out of the situation without revealing his true allegiance to Israel. He wants to remain in Achish's good graces, because staying with Achish provides him safety and resources.
In summary: David is using flattery and a carefully crafted question to maintain his facade of loyalty to Achish. He's trying to convince Achish that he's eager to fight for him, while secretly hoping to avoid fighting against Israel. The verse reveals David's political savvy and his ability to navigate difficult and dangerous situations through deception.
1 samuel 29:8 - David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
What does "1 samuel 29:8" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 29:8 is part of a larger story in which David finds himself in a very tricky situation. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: David and his men are living among the Philistines, having fled from Saul's persecution in Israel. He has sought refuge with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, and has successfully convinced Achish of his loyalty. The Philistines are now preparing to go to war against Israel.
"David said to Achish, 'But what have I done?'": This is David's feigned or, more cynically, carefully worded protest. He pretends to be surprised and concerned about Achish's decision to exclude him from fighting against Israel. The question is rhetorical, designed to emphasize his apparent commitment to Achish.
"What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?'": This is the key part of the verse. David is essentially saying:
"I've been loyal and obedient to you, Achish, for a long time." ("so long as I have been before you to this day")
"What have I done to make you doubt my loyalty now?" ("What have you found in your servant...")
"Why wouldn't you let me fight against your enemies, the enemies of my lord the king (Achish)?"
Deception: David is being duplicitous. He doesn't want to fight against his own people, the Israelites. His aim is to maintain Achish's trust while avoiding having to harm Israel. He's trying to maneuver himself out of the situation without revealing his true allegiance to Israel. He wants to remain in Achish's good graces, because staying with Achish provides him safety and resources.
In summary: David is using flattery and a carefully crafted question to maintain his facade of loyalty to Achish. He's trying to convince Achish that he's eager to fight for him, while secretly hoping to avoid fighting against Israel. The verse reveals David's political savvy and his ability to navigate difficult and dangerous situations through deception.