1 Samuel 27 – Deceiving & Being Deceived in Exile

Translation & Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ The Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 12 Sept 2021

Introduction

1) David’s Self-Deceit and Self-Exile

2) David’s Deceit Towards King Akish

    1. David was proactive about being the first to get word to King Akish about where he conducted offensives; he would stop by the king’s palace on his way home from each raid, perhaps dropping off some of the spoils of war to share with Akish and his people in Gath before coming home to Ziqlag with the remainder to provide for his family’s needs. And when Akish would ask where David had been roving this time, David would give answers which misled Akish into believing that David had been killing Jews in Judea.

    2. Akish believed that David would be his vassal “for ever/long-term.” Akish was deceived in this, for it was God’s will for David to become king of Israel, and David did not intend to be around Gath for ever.

Conclusion

We have looked at a lot of good examples from David over the course of 1 Samuel, but this chapter honestly reveals bad examples in David’s life, to warn us from falling into the same predicaments he did. Let us take good heed to these warnings:

  1. First against self-deceit in failing to remember God’s calling, running off and doing what feels right, and keeping your eyes on yourself rather than praying and gathering godly counsel and continuing to do the last thing God called you to do. Fill your mind with God’s word, remember the great things He has done in the past, keep your eyes on Jesus, and keep trusting Him!

  2. And secondly there’s a warning against deceiving others – even indirectly – as David did to Akish – and covering up for your bad decisions or sins with dishonesty. Rather, openly confess your wrong, guard your tongue from lies, and keep trusting the Lord!

1 Samuel 27 - Side-by side comparison of versionsA

LXX

Brenton

DRB

KJV

NAW

MT

1 Καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ [λέγων] Νῦν προστεθήσομαιB [ἐν] ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ εἰς χεῖρας Σαουλ, [καὶ] οὐκ ἔστιν μοι ἀγαθόν, ἐὰν μὴ σωθῶ X εἰς γῆν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἀνῇC X X Σαουλ τοῦ ζητεῖν με X εἰς πᾶν ὅριον Ισραηλ, καὶ σωθήσομαι ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ.

1 And David said in his heart, Now shall I be one day delivered for death into the hand[s] of Saul; [and] there is no good thing for me unless I should X escape into the land of the Philistines, and Saul should cease X X from seeking me X through every coast of Israel: so I shall escape out of his hand.

1 And David said in his heart: I shall one day or other fall into the hand[s] 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 X in all the coasts of Israel? I will flee then out of his hand[s].

1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coastD of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

1 Then David said to himself, “Now I’m going to be wiped out in one day by the agency of Saul! There is no good course for me except that I apply all diligence to escape to the country of the Philistines so that Saul will loose hope concerning me as he looks for me {} in every precinct of Israel. Thus I will escape from his control.”

1 וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-לִבּוֹ עַתָּה אֶסָּפֶה יוֹם-אֶחָד בְּיַד-שָׁאוּל אֵין-לִי טוֹב כִּי הִמָּלֵט אִמָּלֵט אֶל-אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים וְנוֹאַשׁE מִמֶּנִּי שָׁאוּל לְבַקְשֵׁנִי עוֹד בְּכָל-גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִמְלַטְתִּי מִיָּדוֹ:

2 καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ X καὶ οἱ τετρακόσιοι ἄνδρες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Αγχους υἱὸν Αμμαχ βασιλέα Γεθ.

2 So David arose, X and the sixF hundred men that were with him, and he went to Anchus, son of Ammach, king of Geth.

2 And 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.

2 And David arose, and he passed over X with the six hun­dred men that were with him unto Ach­ish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

2 So David got up and made the border-crossing, he and {400} men who were with him, to Akish, son of Maoch, king of Gath.

2 וַיָּקָםG דָּוִד וַיַּעֲבֹר הוּא וְשֵׁשׁH-מֵאוֹת אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ אֶל-אָכִישׁI בֶּן- מָעוֹךְ מֶלֶךְ גַּת:

3 καὶ ἐκάθισεν Δαυιδ μετὰ Αγχους ἐν Γεθ, αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ, ἕκαστος καὶ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ, [καὶ] Δαυιδ καὶ ἀμφό­τεραι αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτοῦ Αχινααμ ἡ Ιεζραηλῖτις καὶ Αβιγαια ἡ γυνὴ Ναβαλ τοῦ Καρμηλίου.

3 And David dwelt with Anchus, he and his men, each with his family; [and] David and both his wives, Achinaam, the Jezraelitess, and Abigaia the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

3 And 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.

3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahino­am the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Car­melitess, Nabal's wifeJ.

3 And David resided with Akish in Gath, he and his men, each with his own household. {So} there was David with two of his wives: Ahinoam the Jezrael­itess and Abigail the Carmelitess (who had been Nabal’s wife).

3 וַיֵּשֶׁב דָּוִד עִם-אָכִישׁ בְּגַת הוּא וַאֲנָשָׁיו אִישׁ וּבֵיתוֹ דָּוִד וּשְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו אֲחִינֹעַם הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִית וַאֲבִיגַיִל אֵשֶׁת- נָבָל הַכַּרְמְלִית:

4 καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ Σαουλ ὅτι πέφευγεν Δαυιδ εἰς Γεθ, καὶ οὐ προσέθετο ἔτι ζητεῖν αὐτόν.

4 And it was told Saul that David had fled to Geth; and he no longer sought after him X.

4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Geth, and he sought no more after him X.

4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.

4 When it was communicated to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer continued to search for him.

4 וַיֻּגַּד לְשָׁאוּל כִּי-בָרַח דָּוִד גַּת וְלֹא-יוֹסַףK עוֹד לְבַקְשׁוֹ: ס

5 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αγχους Εἰ δὴ εὕρηκεν ὁ δοῦλός σου χάριν ἐν ὀφθ­αλμοῖς σου, δότω­σαν [δή] μοι τόπον ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεων τῶν κατ᾿ ἀγρὸν καὶ καθήσο­μαι ἐκεῖ· καὶ ἵνα τί κάθηται ὁ δοῦλός σου ἐν πόλει X βασι­λευο­μένῃ μετὰ σοῦ;

5 And David said to Anchus, If now thy servant has found grace in thine eyes, let them give me, [I pray thee,] a place in one of the cities in the country, and I will dwell there: for why does thy servant dwell with thee in a royal city?

5 And David said to Achis: If I have found favour in thy sightX, 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?

5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found graceL in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some townX in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?

5 Then David said to Akish, “Please, if I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the agricultural towns that I may reside there, for why should your servant reside in the capitol city with you?”

5 וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-אָכִישׁ אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ יִתְּנוּ-לִי מָקוֹם בְּאַחַת עָרֵי הַשָּׂדֶה וְאֵשְׁבָה שָּׁם וְלָמָּה יֵשֵׁב עַבְדְּךָ בְּעִיר הַמַּמְלָכָה עִמָּךְ:

6 καὶ X ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τὴν Σεκελακ· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγενήθη Σεκελακ τῷ βασιλεῖX τῆς Ιουδαίας ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

6 And X he gave him Sekelac in that day: therefore Sekelac came into possession of the kingX of Judea to this day.

6 Then Achis gave him Siceleg that day: for which reason Siceleg belongeth to the kings of Juda unto this day.

6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertainethM unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

6 So Akish gave Ziqlag to him on that day. (Therefore Ziqlag has belonged to the kings of Judah up to this day.)

6 וַיִּתֶּן-לוֹ אָכִישׁ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת-צִקְלָג לָכֵן הָיְתָה צִקְלַג לְמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה: פ

7 καὶ ἐγενήθη ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν, ὧν ἐκάθισεν Δαυιδ ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, X X τέσσαρας μῆνας.

7 And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was X X four months.

7 And the X X time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was X X four months.

7 And the X X time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

7 And the accounting of the days that David resided in the agricultural-area of the Philistines {} was four months.

7 וַיְהִי מִסְפַּר הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר- יָשַׁב דָּוִד בִּשְׂדֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים יָמִיםN וְאַרְבָּעָה חֳדָשִׁים:

8 καὶ ἀνέβαινεν Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπετίθεντοO ἐπὶ πάντα X τὸν Γεσιρι καὶ [ἐπὶ] τὸν Αμαληκίτην· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ γῆ κατῳκεῖτο ἀπὸ ἀνηκόντων[ἀπὸ Γελαμψουρ] τετειχισμένων καὶ ἕως γῆς Αἰγύπτου.

8 And David and his men went up, and made an attack on all the Gesir­ites and [on] the Amalekites: and behold, the land was inhabited, (even the land [from PGelampsur]) by those who come from the fortified cities even to the land of Egypt.

8 And David and his men went up, and pillaged X Gessuri, and Gerzi, and the Amalecites: for X these were of old the inhabitants of the countries, as men go to Sur, X even to the land of Egypt.

8 And David and his men went up, and invadedQ X the Geshurites, and the GezritesR, and the Amale­kites: for X those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

8 Meanwhile, David went up with his men and made surprise-attacks on the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites, for, you see, they had resided in the land from of old, as you go from Shur as far as to the land of Egypt.

8 וַיַּעַל דָּוִד וַאֲנָשָׁיו וַיִּפְשְׁטוּ אֶל-הַגְּשׁוּרִי וְהַגִּרְזִיS וְהָעֲמָלֵקִי כִּי הֵנָּה יֹשְׁבוֹת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר מֵעוֹלָם בּוֹאֲךָ שׁוּרָה וְעַד-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:

9 καὶ X ἔτυπτε τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐκ ἐζωογόνει ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα καὶ ἐλάμβανεν ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια καὶ ὄνους καὶ καμήλους καὶ ἱματισμόν, καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς Αγχους.

9 And X he smote the land, and saved neither man nor woman alive; and they took flocks, and herds, and asses, and camels, and raiment; and they returned and came to Anchus.

9 And 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.

9 And David smoteT the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the assesU, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

9 And David would make a strike against the land and not leave a man or a woman alive, but would take the sheep and oxen and donkeys and camels and clothes. Then he would turn back and go to Akish.

9 וְהִכָּה דָוִד אֶת-הָאָרֶץ וְלֹא יְחַיֶּה אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה וְלָקַח צֹאן וּבָקָר וַחֲמֹרִים וּגְמַלִּים וּבְגָדִים וַיָּשָׁבV וַיָּבֹא אֶל-אָכִישׁ:

10 καὶ εἶπεν Αγχους [πρὸς Δαυιδ] Ἐπὶ τίνα ἐπέθεσθε σήμερον; καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ [πρὸς Αγχους] Κατὰ νότον τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ κατὰ νότον Ιεσμεγα καὶ κατὰ νότονW τοῦ ΚενεζιX.

10 And Anchus said [to David,] On whom have ye made an attack to-day? And David said to Anchus, On the south of Judea, and on the south of Jesmega, and on the south of the Kenezite.

10 And 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.

10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the southY of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

10 And Akish would say, “Against whom have y’all made a surprise-attack today? And David would say, “Against the south of Judah,” or “Against the south of the Jerechmeelites,” or “Against the south of the Kenites.”

10 וַיֹּאמֶר אָכִישׁ אַלZ- פְּשַׁטְתֶּם הַיּוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד עַל-נֶגֶב יְהוּדָה וְעַלAA-נֶגֶב הַיַּרְחְמְאֵלִיAB וְאֶלAC-נֶגֶב הַקֵּינִיAD:

11 καὶ ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα οὐκ ἐζωογόνησεν X τοῦ εἰσαγαγεῖν εἰς Γεθ λέγων Μὴ ἀναγγείλωσιν [εἰς Γεθ] καθ᾿ ἡμῶν λέγοντες Τάδε Δαυιδ ποιεῖ. καὶ τόδε τὸ δικαίωμα αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, ἃς ἐκάθητο [Δαυιδ] ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων.

11 And X I have not saved man or woman alive to bring [them] to Geth, saying, Lest they carry a report [to Geth] against us, saying, These things David does. And this was his manner all the days that [David] dwelt in the country of the Philistines.

11 And David saved X neither man nor woman, [neither] brought he [any of them] to Geth, saying: Lest they should speak against us X. So did David, and such was his proceeding all the days that he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.

11 And David savedAE neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidingsAF to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his mannerAG all the whileAH he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

11 And David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring to Gath, saying, “Otherwise they will inform on us, saying, ‘David acted in this way.’ And thus was his [system of] justice all the days in which {David} resided in the agricultural-area of the Philistines.

11 וְאִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה לֹא-יְחַיֶּה דָוִד לְהָבִיא גַתAI לֵאמֹר פֶּן-יַגִּדוּ עָלֵינוּ לֵאמֹר כֹּה-עָשָׂה דָוִד AJוְכֹה מִשְׁפָּטוֹ כָּל-הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר יָשַׁבAK בִּשְׂדֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים:

12 καὶ ἐπιστεύθη Δαυιδ ἐν τῷ Αγχους [σφόδρα] λέγων Ἤισχυνται αἰσχυνόμενος ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ ἔσται μοι δοῦλος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

12 So David had the [full] confidence of Anchus, who said, He is thoroughly disgraced among his people in Israel and he shall be my servant for ever.

12 And Achis believed David, saying: He hath done much harm to his people X Israel: Therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made X his people X Israel utterly to abhor [him]AL; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

12 And Akish trusted in David, saying, “He has really caused a stink among his people in Israel, so he will belong to me as a long-term servant.”

12 וַיַּאֲמֵן אָכִישׁ בְּדָוִד לֵאמֹר הַבְאֵשׁ הִבְאִישׁAM בְּעַמּוֹ ANבְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיָה לִי לְעֶבֶד עוֹלָם: פ


1The plural subject may refer to some sort of council of Philistine nobles.

2Gill noted that some Jewish commentators suggested a later prophet such as Jeremiah or even Ezra, but Tsumura and K&D noted that by the time of those prophets, the kings of Judah had lost possession of Ziqlag to foreign armies.

3See footnote AK on the debate over whether to place the end of the quote here or at the end of the verse.

4Keil & Delitzsch were confident as always in their opinion: “Achish, the son of Maoch, is in all probability the same person not only as the king Achish mentioned in 1Sam. 21:11, but also as Achish the son of Maachah (1Ki_2:39), since Maoch and Maachah are certainly only different forms of the same name; and a fifty years' reign, which we should have in that case to ascribe to Achish, it not impossible.”

5Whether the endquote in v.11 is placed in the middle or at the end of the verse makes a difference in this regard.

6cf. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: “Conder proposed Zucheilika, a ruin 11 miles South-Southeast of Gaza, and 4 miles North of Wady es-Sheri'a, which may be the "Brook Besor" (1 Sam 30:9,10,21); Rowland (1842) proposed `Asluj, a heap of ruins South of Beersheba and 7 miles to the East of Bered. Neither site is entirely satisfactory”

7John Gill agreed, commenting, “Geshurites; some of the old inhabitants of the land of Canaan, the remains of the Amorites, whose land was given to the half tribe of Manasseh, but could never be expelled… and the Gezrites; the inhabitants of Gezer, which place fell to the tribe of Ephraim; but that tribe could not drive out the inhabitants of it...” But Keil & Delitzsch took issue with other commentators, asserting that the Geshuri and the Gerzites weren’t the peoples mentioned Joshua 12, but were different groups mentioned in Joshua 13:2 and perhaps 2 Maccabees 13:24, that had always resided south of Palestine.

8“Probably the Geshurites and Gezrites were branches of Amalek.” ~M. Henry

9Keil & Delitsch seemed to agree: “Geshurites, Gerzites, and Amalekites dwelt close to the southern boundary of Judah, so that David was able to represent the march against these tribes to Achish as a march against the south of Judah, to make him believe that he had been making an attack upon the southern territory of Judah and its dependencies.”

AMy original chart includes the NASB and NIV, but their copyright restrictions have forced me to remove them from the publicly-available edition of this chart. I have included the ESV in footnotes when it employs a word not already used by the KJV, NASB, or NIV. (NAW is my translation.) When a translation adds words not in the Hebrew text, but does not indicate it has done so by the use of italics (or greyed-out text), I put the added words in [square brackets]. When one version chooses a wording which is different from all the other translations, I underline it. When a version chooses a translation which, in my opinion, either departs too far from the root meaning of the Hebrew word or departs too far from the grammar form of the original text, I use strikeout. And when a version omits a word which is in the original text, I insert an X. (I also place an X at the end of a word if the original word is plural but the English translation is singular.) I occasionally use colors to help the reader see correlations between the various editions and versions when there are more than two different translations of a given word. The only known Dead Sea Scroll containing any part of 1 Samuel 27 is 4Q51Samuela, which contains fragments of vs. 1-2 & 8-12, and which has been dated between 50-25 B.C. Where the DSS is legible and where its letters are the same as the MT, I have colored the MT purple. Where the DSS supports the LXX with omissions or text not in the MT, I have highlighted with yellow the LXX and its translation into English, and where I have accepted that into my NAW translation, I have marked it with {pointed brackets}.

BSymmachus rendered a Greek word similar to the Vulgate “fall.”

Ccf. later Greek versions: Aq. apognwseai, (“away from being known”), S. aposchtai (“get away”)

DNASB = “territory,” ESV = “border” (The latter seems the best translation to me.)

EThis is the first occurrence of this root in the OT. It only occurs a few more times afterwards, often translated “hopeless” Job 6:26; Eccl. 2:20; Isa. 57:10; Jer. 2:25; 18:12.

FThe DSS and the Rahlf edition of the Septuagint read 400, but the Vaticanus reads 600, and that is what Brenton used.

GTsumura suggested that this was an inchoative: “David began crossing over...”

HThe DSS starts this word with an aleph, but the rest of the word is illegible. The only numerals in Hebrew that start with aleph are 1 & 4, and 1 is too short a word for the space in the DSS, so the DSS supports the Septuagint and old Latin versions which also read 400.

Icf. 21:10ff, when David unsuccessfully sought asylum with Akish. This name, however, may simply be the title of the king of Gath (hence the “son of Maoch” to distinguish him from other Akishes), so it’s possible that this is a different King than the one in chapter 21, although no one seems to be certain.
NICOT: “An inscription found in Ekron refers to the king as ‘Akhayus,’ the same word as ‘Achish,’ and Naveh has recently argued that in Iron Age Philistine cities “Achish’ may be ‘the official name’ or appellation for the Philistine kings.”

JNASB, NIV, and ESV render this Hebrew word which literally means “woman,” as “widow,” but there is a different word for “widow” in Hebrew (אלמנה).

KThe Qere (Masoretic margin note) suggests a change of spelling of this verb from a participle to a perfect (יָסַף), but it doesn’t really make a difference in meaning.

LNASB, NIV, ESV = “favor”

MNASB, NIV, ESV = “has belonged to”

NThis Hebrew word literally means “days,” and this is the way most Jewish commentators understood it. (There is a different word in Hebrew for “yearשנה.) But it is translated “[full] year” in most English versions. However, this word is not found in the oldest-known manuscripts, notably the Vaticanus or any Septuagint or even in the later Jewish corrections of the Septuagint, and it’s not in the Syriac or the Latin Vulgate either. (Josephus [Ant. 6:13, 10] gives this as “four months and twenty-days.” I found one source quoting Kimchi at “7 months” and another at “4 months and some days” along with Rashi.) Unfortunately, there is no known Dead Sea Scroll that contains this verse, so we don’t have that for comparison. It seems worthy of mention that the time calculated in this verse is only for when David was in the “field/country/boondocks/agricultural area of the Philistines.” The word “field/country” is the same one used to describe the rural/agricultural town of Ziqlag which David asked for. Could it be that scholars, wishing to account for the entire exile in Philistia, had to add “a year” to the total, whereas the sojourn in Ziklag was only 4 months? This should be reconciled also with Achish’s statement in 29:3 that David “has been with me these days or these years [‎זֶה יָמִים אוֹ־זֶה שָׁנִים]” - the word “or” is a contrast word, contrasting yomim vs. sanim, which could be a reason not to translate yomim here as “a year.” (It also raises the question of whether Akish is exaggerating when he says “years” if neither of the two textual traditions of this verse in chapter 27 amount to two or more years, which makes me wonder if “days” might be closer to the mark.) Also note that the same word is translated “days/time/while” (not “a year”) in the previous occurrence of this word earlier in this verse as well as in the subsequent occurrence of this word when it occurs in v.11. Matthew Henry and John Gill opted for “4 months and/that is some days,” whereas Willett, K&D, and Tsumura opted for “a year and 4 months.”

OAquila rendered paretacqhsan (“mobilized”)

PHere the LXX rendered the Hebrew words twice, first translated into Greek (with questionable accuracy), then repeated, spelling the Hebrew words olam (“of old”) and “Shur” as Greek letters in one run-on word, omitting the Hebrew word boak (“you go”) which is in the MT between these two words. The Lucian Rescription of the Septuagint of this verse apparently corrects to the MT reading.

QNASB, NIV = “raided” cf. the same word in 23:27 describing the Philistines making a surprise attack, and in 27:10, where the NASB & NIV are consistent, but the KJV reads strangely “made a road,” and the Geneva “bene a rouing” (“been roving”).

RMT, Vulg, NASB, NIV, and ESV spell this “Girzites” (with the “r” and “z” switched). The LXX and KJV followed the Qere spelling found in some Hebrew manuscripts. Slight variations in spelling of proper names is normal, so it may not actually be a different word. On the other hand, McCarter argued against “Gezrites” because he identified them as a people group which lived too far north to fit with this account.

SThe Vulgate, old Latin, and Targums support this spelling, but the LXX (and KJV) followed the spelling in the Masorite marginal notes, transposing the Z and the R [וְהַגִּזְרִי].

TNASB & NIV = “attacked”

UNASB & NIV = “cattle and donkeys”

VThe DSS is obliterated here, but it has room for a word or two more than the MT has. It has been suggested that “David” might have been added as an explicit subject, but his name doesn’t appear in the Vulgate or Septuagint, and it would already be assumed that he is the subject, so it wouldn’t make any difference in meaning.

WSymmachus rendered instead meshmbrian (“south”).

XAquila and Theodotian render closer to the spelling of the MT without the “Z” at the end: Κιναιου

YAll three instances of the word “south” are the Hebrew word negev, which can mean “south,” but the NASB, NIV, and ESV interpreted as a particular place called “the Negev,” which is the wilderness south of Judah.

ZDSS reads ym lu (“against whom”), which is how the LXX reads, and the Vulgate supports them over against the MT.

AATsumura, citing G. Galil, suggested that the “waw before toward the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites is a waw explicative and should be translated ‘namely.’”
DSS reads אל (“at”), but this is practically a synonym.

ABDSS does not have the definite article prefix that the MT has (which doesn’t make a difference in translation since a proper noun is definite no matter what) or the yod suffix (“-ites?”).

ACDSS reads על (“over”), but this is practically a synonym.

ADOn Kenites, see 15:6 and 30:29

AEKJV translated this same verb “left alive” a couple verses previous.

AFThe word “tidings/news” found in the KJV, NKJV, and ESV (and M. Henry’s commentary) is not even implied in the Hebrew or Greek word. The LXX, Vulgate, Geneva, ASV/NASB, AJV, NIV, RV, NET, CEV, and NLT, as well as the French and Spanish versions I have, and commentaries by Gill, K&D, Goldman, and Tsumura all avoid adding this word, implying that it is the persons, not merely the “tidings” which David wanted to prevent from getting to Gath.

AGNASB & NIV = “practice,” ESV = “custom,” cf. 2:13 “regulation of the priests,” and 8:9-11 “justice-system of the king”

AHLiterally “days,” NASB = “time,” NIV = “as long as,” ESV = “while” cf. this word in v.7, where it is translated “year”

AIDSS spelled “Gath” with a directional he on the end here: htg, denoting “bring to/in the direction of Gath,” and the LXX supports this with the standalone preposition εις (“into”), for there is no such preposition in the MT.

AJScholars are split over whether this is the end of the quote (NIV, NKJV, ESV, NET, CEV, NLT) or whether the quote should go to the end of the verse (Geneva, KJV, Matthew Henry, Gill, RV, NASB, AJV, Tsumura). Keil & Delitzsch weighed in with the former, writing with their typical confidence, “‘Thus hath David done.’ There ought to be a major point under דָּוִד עָשָׂה, as the following clause does not contain the words of the slaughtered enemies, but is a clause appended by the historian himself, to the effect that David continued to act in that manner as long as he dwelt in the land of the Philistines.”

AKThe LXX, Syriac, and some Hebrew manuscripts add “David” explicitly as the subject. The DSS is obliterated at this point, but it has too much space for the wording of the MT, so that would support there being the extra word there.

ALNASB = “surely made himself odious,” NIV = “become so odious,” ESV = “made himself an utter stench”

AMcf. the use of this same verb in 1 Samuel 13:4 “And all Israel heard it saying that Saul had made a strike against the garrison of the Philistines and also that Israel had made itself obnoxious to the Philistines. When these things were announced, the people got behind Saul at Gilgal.” (NAW)

ANKJV, NASB, NIV, and ESV follow the Latin and Syriac which omit the preposition “in” before Israel, but the preposition is there in the Greek and Hebrew.

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