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The sacred narrative now turns once more to the Philistine host. The trysting-place
for the contingents of the five allied "lords" or kings of the Philistines was at Aphek,
probably the same as on a previous occasion (1 Samuel 4:1).^233
As they marched past, the division of Achish formed "the rear-ward." When the
Philistine leaders saw David and his men amongst them, they not unnaturally
objected to their presence. In vain Achish urged their faithfulness since they had
"fallen away" to him. As it appeared to them, one who had in the past taken such a
stand as David could never be trusted; and how better could he make his peace with
his master than by turning traitor to the Philistines in the hour of their supreme need?
And so, however reluctantly, Achish had to yield. David's remonstrance, couched in
ambiguous language, was perhaps scarcely such (1 Samuel 29:8), but rather intended
to make sure of the real views of Achish in regard to him. But it must have been with
the intense relief of a realized God-given deliverance, that early next morning, ere
the camp was astir, David and his men quitted its outskirts, where the rear-guard lay,
to return to Ziklag.
It was the third day when the Hebrews reached their Philistine home. But what a
sight greeted them here! Broken walls, blackened ruins, and the desolateness of utter
silence all around! The Amalekites had indeed taken vengeance for David's repeated
raids upon them (27:8). They had made an incursion into the Negeb, or south
country, and specially upon Ziklag. In the absence of its defenders, the place fell an
easy prey. After laying it waste, the Amalekites took with them all the women and
children, as well as the cattle, and any other booty on which they could lay hands. It
was a terrible surprise, and the first effect upon David and his men was truly
Oriental (30:4). But it is both characteristic of David's followers, and indicates with
what reluctance they must have followed him to Aphek, that they actually thought of
killing David, as if he had been the author of that ill-fated expedition after Achish
which had brought them such hopeless misery. It was bitter enough to have lost his
own family, and now David was in danger of his life from the mutiny of his men.
Had God spared him for this? On the very morning when they had broken up from
Aphek, making almost forced marches to traverse the fifty miles to Ziklag, their
homes had been utterly laid waste. Why all this? Did the Lord make him tarry, as
Jesus did "beyond Jordan," till Lazarus had been three days dead? Never more than
on occasion of extreme and seemingly hopeless straits did David prove the reality of
his religion by rising to the loftiest heights of faith and prayer. The text gives a
marked emphasis to the contrast: "But David strengthened himself in Jehovah his
God." His resolve was quickly taken. The first thing was to inquire of the Lord
whether he should pursue the Amalekites. The answer was even fuller than he had
asked, for it promised him also complete success. The next thing was hasty pursuit
of the enemy. So rapid was it, that when they reached the brook Besor, which flows
(^)