1 Samuel 29:3

Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Philistine military commanders question Achish about David and his men just before marching into battle. Achish responds to defend David’s conduct during his extended stay in Philistine territory.

The words — שָׂרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים (śāre pĕlištîm) translates to “commanders of the Philistines,” identifying the specific officers who challenge Achish’s authority. מָה הָעִבְרִים הָאֵלֶּה (māh hāʿîḇrîm hāʾēleh) means “what [are] these Hebrews,” voicing the commanders’ suspicion.

The thread — The pattern of rulers finding no legitimate charge against a faithful servant appears in Daniel 6:5, while the duration of David’s residency in Philistine territory is recorded in 1 Samuel 27:7.

Why it lands — The passage requires acknowledging that institutional suspicion can override personal testimony, demanding a reader to weigh external pressure against documented conduct.

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

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙va/i.yo.me.Ruand/ they said שָׂרֵ֣יsa.Rei[the] commanders of פְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםfe.lish.Tim[the] Philistines מָ֖הmahwhat?הָעִבְרִ֣יםha./'iv.Rim[are] the/ Hebrews הָאֵ֑לֶּהha./'E.leh<the>/ these וַיֹּ֨אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אָכִ֜ישׁ'a.KhishAchish אֶל־'el-to שָׂרֵ֣יsa.Rei[the] commanders of פְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםfe.lish.Tim[the] Philistines הֲלֽוֹא־ha./lo'-¿/ not זֶ֨הzeh[is] this דָוִ֜דda.VidDavid עֶ֣בֶד׀'E.ved[the] servant of שָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlSaul מֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-[the] king of יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElIsrael אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherwho הָיָ֤הha.Yahhe has been אִתִּי֙'i.T/iwith/ me זֶ֤הzehthis יָמִים֙ya.Mimdays אוֹ־'ov-or זֶ֣הzehthis שָׁנִ֔יםsha.Nimyears וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not מָצָ֤אתִיma.Tza.tiI have foundבוֹ֙v/oin <the>/ himמְא֔וּמָהme.'U.mahanything מִיּ֥וֹםmi./Yomfrom/ [the] day נָפְל֖וֹna.fe.L/ofell/ he עַד־'ad-until הַיּ֥וֹםhai./Yomthe/ day הַזֶּֽה׃ פha./Zeh<the>/ this

King James Version

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

Cross-references

1 Samuel 27:7 And the time that David lived in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.
Daniel 6:5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”
1 Samuel 25:28 Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.
John 19:6 As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
1 Peter 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

People named

DavidSaulAchish