1 samuel 27 and 28

Read 1 Samuel 27 and 28 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for today’s chapters are:

1 Samuel 27:1-4 {s} David dwelt with Achish the king of Gath, and Saul sought him no more
1 Samuel 27:5-6 {p} Achish gave David Ziklag to dwell in
1 Samuel 27:7-12 {p} David’s raids on the Canaanites while he dwelt with the Philistines
1 Samuel 28:1-2 {p} Achish asks David to fight on the side of the Philistines in war against Israel
1 Samuel 28:3-14 {s} Saul seeks out the medium of En Dor to call Samuel up from the grave
1 Samuel 28:15 {s} Saul: God does not answer me, therefore I have called you
1 Samuel 28:16-25 {p} Samuel prophesies death for Saul and defeat for Israel

David wrote Psalm 54 when the Ziphites betrayed him to Saul.

The overlapping chiastic structure which encompasses today’s chapters:

1a) 1 Sam 25:1-43 {p+s+s} Death of Samuel/ Nabal’s wife given to David:

1) 1 Sam 25:1 {p} Samuel died + Israel lamented for him + buried him at his home in Ramah;
2) 1 Sam 25:2-43 {s+s} Worthless Nabal’s wife taken from him and given to David;

1b) 1 Sam 25:44-26:4, David fled to the Wilderness of Ziph, and Saul sought him there;

1c) 1 Sam 26:5a, So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped;

central axis) 1 Sam 26:5b-25a {s+px3} David, not Abner, guarded the king’s life/ the LORD guarded David’s life + will judge Saul’s life;

2c) 1 Sam 26:25b {p} So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place;

2b) 1 Sam 27:1-28:2 {s+px3} David fled to Achish the king of Gath, and Saul sought him no more;

1a) 1 Sam 27:1-6 {s+p} David fled to Achish + he found favor in his eyes;
1b) 1 Sam 27:7, David dwelt in the country of the Philistines one full year + four months;
1c) 1 Sam 27:8-9, David attacked the ancient inhabitants of the land to destroy them before Israel;
central axis) 1 Sam 27:10, David reported to Achish that he had raided against the Israelites;
2c) 1 Sam 27:11a, David saved man nor woman alive, lest they bring news to Gath;
2b) 1 Sam 27:11b, This David did all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines;
2a) 1 Sam 27:12-28:2 {p+p} Achish trusted David because he believed he was abhorred in Israel’s eyes;

1a) 1 Sam 27:12 {p} Achish believed David abhorrant to Israel + will be his servant forever;
1b) 1 Sam 28:1a, The Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel;
central axis) 1 Sam 28:1b, Achish to David: You will go out with me to the battle;
2b) 1 Sam 28:2a, David to Achish: Surely you know what your servant can do;
2a) 1 Sam 28:2b {p} Achish to David: I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.

2a) 1 Sam 28:3-25 {s+s+p} Death of Samuel/ Saul’s kingdom to be given to David:

1) 1 Sam 28:3a, Samuel had died + Israel had lamented for him + buried him in Ramah his own city;
2) 1 Sam 28:3b-25 {s+s+p} Samuel’s final prophecy: Saul’s kingdom to be taken from him + given to David.

In the A pair: David received both Nabal’s wife, and will receive Saul’s kingdom. There is a continuing link between Nabal and Saul. The name “Nabal” is Strong’s H5037 and means “fool.” There are actually five Hebrew words for “fool” in the Hebrew Scriptures, descending in foolishness from simple or niave foolishness, the most innocent kind, to wicked, hardened foolishness, the most depraved kind.

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. Psa 14:1

This “fool” is the hardened, depraved fool, and is in Hebrew “nabal;” yes, the same as Nabal. Abigail said of him,

“For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him!” 1 Sam 25:25

But even Saul confessed to David:

“Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.” 1 Sam 26:21

So it may be said that the one who is strengthened in foolishness forfeits his treasures for the one strengthened in wisdom.

There is an interesting play in the conversation Achish and David have before the battle with Israel:

1a) 1 Sam 27:12 {p} Achish believed David abhorrant to Israel + will be his servant forever;
1b) 1 Sam 28:1a, The Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel;
central axis) 1 Sam 28:1b, Achish to David: You will go out with me to the battle;
2b) 1 Sam 28:2a, David to Achish: Surely you know what your servant can do;
2a) 1 Sam 28:2b {p} Achish to David: I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.

The matching B pairs are a puzzle, as to how they match. But the first time David was involved when the Philistines gathered their armies together for war to fight with Israel, was when Goliath challenged Israel! Goliath was from Gath, the city over which Achish was king! So David replied to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do!” However, Achish missed David’s point, and just assumed that he would be his servant forever. I assume that David was declaring where his allegiance would lie in the coming battle, but Achish missed the warning.