What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 27:3? David and his men settled in Gath with Achish “David and his men settled in Gath with Achish.” (1 Samuel 27:3a) • Saul’s unrelenting pursuit (1 Samuel 26:2–3) drove David to seek refuge among the Philistines, fulfilling the resolve he voiced in 27:1. • Gath is the same city where David earlier feigned madness before Achish (21:10-15); now the Lord permits a more enduring stay, showing that even outside Israel’s borders God keeps His anointed (Psalm 34, composed after the earlier visit). • Achish grants asylum because God grants David favor (1 Chron 12:1); in God’s timing this move positions David for future alliances (28:1-2) and prevents needless bloodshed with Saul. • The text underscores literal history, not allegory: David truly crossed enemy lines yet remained under divine sovereignty (Psalm 56:8-13). Each man had his family with him “Each man had his family with him.” (1 Samuel 27:3b) • The 600 warriors who joined David (23:13) brought wives and children, forming a covenant community rather than a band of renegades. • David’s leadership protected entire households, contrasting Saul’s self-focused rule (22:18-19). • This detail anticipates the later Amalekite raid on Ziklag (30:3-6), illustrating both the vulnerability and value of family life on the move. • Scripture consistently elevates family responsibility—see Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and Joshua 24:15—so the verse shows David aligning with God’s design even in exile. David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal “David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.” (1 Samuel 27:3c) • Ahinoam is first mentioned in 25:43; Abigail’s story of faith and discernment appears in 25:2-42. Their presence signals God’s ongoing provision and covenant blessings despite hardship. • While Old Testament narratives record polygamy, they never glamorize it; later consequences in David’s house (2 Samuel 13) warn against deviating from God’s original one-flesh ideal (Genesis 2:24). • Naming both wives roots the account in concrete reality and ties the Gath episode back to earlier chapters, reinforcing Scripture’s seamless historical flow. summary 1 Samuel 27:3 shows David’s strategic move to Gath, the care he extends to every family under his command, and the continuity of God’s provision through Ahinoam and Abigail. The verse portrays real events that highlight God’s sovereignty: even in enemy territory He protects His chosen leader, sustains covenant families, and advances redemptive purposes that will culminate in David’s eventual kingship and, ultimately, in the Messiah who descends from this very line. |
    |