1 Samuel 27:7
And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיְהִי֙
H1961
וַֽיְהִי֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מִסְפַּ֣ר
And the time
H4557
מִסְפַּ֣ר
And the time
Strong's:
H4557
Word #:
2 of 11
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
יָמִ֖ים
was a full year
H3117
יָמִ֖ים
was a full year
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
3 of 11
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 11
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יָשַׁ֥ב
dwelt
H3427
יָשַׁ֥ב
dwelt
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
5 of 11
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים
of the Philistines
H6430
פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים
of the Philistines
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
8 of 11
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
Historical Context
The period from approximately 1012 to 1010 BCE represents a transitional phase when Saul's kingdom deteriorated while David built a power base. David's activities during this time laid groundwork for his rapid assumption of rule after Saul's death.
Questions for Reflection
- What formative periods in your life have occurred during times of apparent exile or waiting?
- How do you steward seasons of transition when the future remains unclear?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The timeframe 'a full year and four months' (Hebrew: 'yamim arba'ah chodashim,' literally 'days and four months,' where 'days' idiomatically means a year) establishes the extent of David's exile. This period roughly corresponds to the final sixteen months of Saul's reign, during which David operated independently while nominally under Philistine authority. The specificity suggests an accurate historical tradition preserved in the narrative. These months shaped David's character and established relationships that would influence his reign.