Bible Strands
1 Samuel 28:1
Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Achish commands David and his men to march with the Philistine army against Israel during a period of active military mobilization. This directive occurs immediately as the Philistines assemble their forces for war.
The words — The phrase וַֽיְהִי בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם (va/y.Hi ba/i.ya.Mim ha./Hem) literally reads “and it was in the days those,” fixing the event in a specific timeframe. The verb וַיִּקְבְּצוּ (va/i.yik.be.Tzu) means “and they gathered together,” describing the Philistines concentrating their armies.
The thread — This pattern of Philistine mobilization appears in 1 Samuel 17:1 at Socoh and 1 Samuel 29:1 at Aphek, while Judges 3:1 frames such campaigns as divinely permitted tests for Israel.
Why it lands — The passage requires a reader to see how geopolitical pressure forces a direct loyalty test, compelling David to choose between a foreign commander’s order and his own nation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.
- 1 Samuel 29:1 Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
- Judges 3:1 These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,
- 1 Samuel 7:7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines
- 1 Samuel 13:5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
- 1 Samuel 27:12 So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”