Keraia
1 Samuel 27

1 Samuel 27:10

David and the Philistines · 1 Samuel 27:1–12
Read 1 Samuel 27

Translations

Modern
…who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”
Traditional
And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
Literal
And Achish would say, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David would say, “Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelite, and against the south of the Kenite.”
Latin
Dicebat autem ei Achis: In quem irruisti hodie? Respondebat David: Contra meridiem Judæ, et contra meridiem Jerameel, et contra meridiem Ceni.

Original

Hebrew
English
…who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”

Notes

1 Samuel 27:10

  • David misled Achish by claiming his attacks were against his own people of Judah and two other related groups. The text neither praises nor criticizes David for lying to the foreign king.

  • The Jerahmeelites were a Semitic tribe (an ancient people group from the Middle East who shared related languages and customs) living in southern Judah (see 1 Chronicles 2:9, 25–27, 33, 42).

  • Kenites: The father-in-law of Moses was a Kenite (see Judges 1:16; 4:11; see also study note on 1 Samuel 15:6).

1 Samuel 27:1–12

David fled to the Philistines to get away from Saul for good. Rather than killing Saul, David chose the dangerous life of a fugitive.

Theme notes and profiles

David Saul The Philistines

Events

People

Achish: Philistine king of Gath, gave refuge to David David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Jerahmeel: Son of Hezron, a descendant of Judah Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province Kenites: A nomadic tribe friendly to the Israelites

Places

Negeb: The southern region of Israel, a semi-arid area

Glossary

Achish David Jerahmeel Jerahmeelite Kenites Negeb, Negev Philistia, Philistines Samuel, Books of First and Second Simeon, Tribe of

Topics

David: King of Israel: Conducts an Expedition Against Amalekites, Misstates the Facts to Achish Falsehood: David's Other Deceits with the Philistines Philistines: Kings of Achish The Kenites: David: Pretended That he Invaded War of Extermination