1 Samuel 27:5
And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
5 of 23
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
נָא֩
H4994
נָא֩
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
6 of 23
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
מָצָ֨אתִי
If I have now found
H4672
מָצָ֨אתִי
If I have now found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
7 of 23
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
חֵ֤ן
grace
H2580
חֵ֤ן
grace
Strong's:
H2580
Word #:
8 of 23
graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙
in thine eyes
H5869
בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙
in thine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
9 of 23
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
יִתְּנוּ
let them give
H5414
יִתְּנוּ
let them give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
10 of 23
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
מָק֗וֹם
me a place
H4725
מָק֗וֹם
me a place
Strong's:
H4725
Word #:
12 of 23
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
בְּאַחַ֛ת
in some
H259
בְּאַחַ֛ת
in some
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
13 of 23
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
בְּעִ֥יר
city
H5892
בְּעִ֥יר
city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
14 of 23
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יֵשֵׁ֧ב
dwell
H3427
יֵשֵׁ֧ב
dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
16 of 23
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
שָּׁ֑ם
H8033
וְלָ֨מָּה
H4100
וְלָ֨מָּה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
18 of 23
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יֵשֵׁ֧ב
dwell
H3427
יֵשֵׁ֧ב
dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
19 of 23
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
בְּעִ֥יר
city
H5892
בְּעִ֥יר
city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
21 of 23
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
Historical Context
Living in the royal city would have required constant interaction with Philistine nobility and potential participation in pagan religious ceremonies. David's request for a rural assignment created distance from these compromising situations while maintaining his alliance with Achish.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you create appropriate boundaries within unavoidable compromising situations?
- What wisdom guides your requests when you must work within systems you cannot fully endorse?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
David's request for 'a place in some town in the country' reveals strategic thinking within moral complexity. By leaving Gath itself, David would gain freedom from constant surveillance while creating a base for independent operations. His humble self-designation ('thy servant') and rhetorical question ('why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?') employ the language of submission while actually seeking autonomy. This diplomatic maneuvering demonstrates David's ability to navigate foreign courts.