What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 28:1? Now in those days “Now in those days” (1 Samuel 28:1a) places the scene in the closing months of Saul’s reign. • David has been living in Philistine territory for about a year and four months (1 Samuel 27:7), operating from Ziklag under Achish’s protection. • Samuel has already died (1 Samuel 28:3), Saul is spiritually adrift, and the Philistines sense Israel’s growing weakness. • The phrase links this verse to the larger narrative arc—events that will culminate in Saul’s death (1 Samuel 31:1)—showing a divinely ordered timeline in which God’s earlier warning in 1 Samuel 15:28 (“The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today…”) is moving toward fulfillment. the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel The Philistines mass once more, as they did in 1 Samuel 4:1, 13:5, and 17:1. This recurring menace highlights Israel’s need for a king who truly depends on the LORD (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). • Unlike earlier confrontations, this gathering is strategic and decisive; it will take place at Aphek and Shunem (1 Samuel 29:1, 28:4). • Israel’s enemy is united, while Saul’s leadership is faltering. The contrast echoes Exodus 17:8-16 where Israel prevailed only when Moses kept his hands raised—symbolizing dependence on God. • The verse does not imply God’s absence; rather, it sets up a stage where His sovereignty will be displayed through both judgment on Saul and preservation of David (Psalm 33:10-11). So Achish said to David Achish, king of Gath, addresses David because David has become his vassal (1 Samuel 27:5-6). • David’s earlier feigned madness in Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15) contrasts sharply with his present acceptance in the royal court, underscoring God’s providential hand in moving David from fugitive to insider. • Achish trusts David, calling him “blameless” in 1 Samuel 29:3, a reminder that God can grant favor even among enemies (Proverbs 16:7). • This conversation will force David into a crisis of loyalty similar to Joseph’s dilemmas in Egypt (Genesis 39-41), again showcasing God’s ability to turn precarious situations into redemptive outcomes. You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me Achish’s command (1 Samuel 28:1b) leaves David appearing trapped: • If David fights for the Philistines, he risks killing fellow Israelites and forfeiting his future kingship (2 Samuel 1:1-2). • If he refuses, he risks Achish’s wrath and the safety of his 600 men and their families (1 Samuel 30:1-6). • God resolves the tension by having Philistine commanders dismiss David (1 Samuel 29:4-11), sparing him from shedding Israelite blood and freeing him to rescue Ziklag. • The episode mirrors Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all,” illustrating God’s faithfulness even when His servants appear boxed in. summary 1 Samuel 28:1 introduces the final Philistine campaign against Saul and sets David in a precarious position alongside Achish. The verse: • Anchors the narrative in a specific, God-directed moment. • Highlights the Philistines’ growing threat and Israel’s weakened state. • Shows Achish’s confidence in David, revealing God’s providence in alien territory. • Presents a seeming no-win scenario for David that God will soon overturn. The verse therefore functions as a hinge: judgment is coming for Saul, but deliverance and legitimacy are being prepared for David, confirming God’s unwavering control over Israel’s history and His covenant purposes. |
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