And David smote 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 Achish.
1 SAMUEL 27:9KJVWhat does 1 Samuel 27:9 mean?
1 Samuel 27:9 describes how David attacked certain territories, leaving no man or woman alive, and took livestock and goods before returning to Achish. The verse shows David’s actions while he was living among the Philistines, carrying out raids and bringing the spoils back to his Philistine host.
In this passage, David is not speaking but acting; the narrative describes his raids during his time under the protection of Achish, king of Gath. David’s actions are strategic—he eliminates witnesses and brings back livestock and clothing as evidence of his raids. This verse highlights the lengths David went to in order to maintain his position and safety while living as a fugitive from King Saul.
The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 27:9
- "Smote" (נָכָה, nakah): This word means to strike or defeat, often with violence. Here, it emphasizes the thoroughness and severity of David’s raids.
- "Land" (אֶרֶץ, erets): This term can mean land, region, or territory. The verse is not naming a specific nation but rather areas David targeted.
- "Returned" (שׁוּב, shuv) and "came" (בּוֹא, bo): These words show a deliberate action—David is not just raiding but consistently returning to Achish, reinforcing his relationship with the Philistine king.
Why 1 Samuel 27:9 matters
- This verse clarifies that David’s actions were calculated and ruthless, not just random violence; he was intentionally removing any witnesses who could report his true activities.
- The verse helps explain how David maintained Achish’s trust, as Achish believed David was raiding Israelite enemies, not allies.
- It connects to the wider story by showing the complexity of David’s situation as a fugitive, highlighting both his cunning and the moral ambiguity of his choices during this period.