1 Samuel 29:4
And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּקְצְפ֨וּ
were wroth
H7107
וַיִּקְצְפ֨וּ
were wroth
Strong's:
H7107
Word #:
1 of 35
to crack off, i.e., (figuratively) burst out in rage
עָלָ֜יו
H5921
עָלָ֜יו
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 35
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים
of the Philistines
H6430
פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים
of the Philistines
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
4 of 35
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים
of the Philistines
H6430
פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים
of the Philistines
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
8 of 35
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
וְיָשֹׁב֙
return
H7725
וְיָשֹׁב֙
return
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
9 of 35
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 35
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָאִ֗ישׁ
this fellow
H376
הָאִ֗ישׁ
this fellow
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
11 of 35
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וְיָשֹׁב֙
return
H7725
וְיָשֹׁב֙
return
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
12 of 35
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
מְקוֹמוֹ֙
to his place
H4725
מְקוֹמוֹ֙
to his place
Strong's:
H4725
Word #:
14 of 35
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)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
15 of 35
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִפְקַדְתּ֣וֹ
which thou hast appointed
H6485
הִפְקַדְתּ֣וֹ
which thou hast appointed
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
16 of 35
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
שָׁ֔ם
H8033
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
18 of 35
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵרֵ֤ד
him and let him not go down
H3381
יֵרֵ֤ד
him and let him not go down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
19 of 35
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
עִמָּ֙נוּ֙
H5973
עִמָּ֙נוּ֙
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
20 of 35
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה
lest in the battle
H4421
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה
lest in the battle
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
21 of 35
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
וְלֹא
H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
22 of 35
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִֽהְיֶה
H1961
יִֽהְיֶה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
23 of 35
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לְשָׂטָ֖ן
he be an adversary
H7854
לְשָׂטָ֖ן
he be an adversary
Strong's:
H7854
Word #:
25 of 35
an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) satan, the arch-enemy of good
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה
lest in the battle
H4421
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה
lest in the battle
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
26 of 35
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
וּבַמֶּ֗ה
H4100
וּבַמֶּ֗ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
27 of 35
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יִתְרַצֶּ֥ה
to us for wherewith should he reconcile
H7521
יִתְרַצֶּ֥ה
to us for wherewith should he reconcile
Strong's:
H7521
Word #:
28 of 35
to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy a debt
אֲדֹנָ֔יו
himself unto his master
H113
אֲדֹנָ֔יו
himself unto his master
Strong's:
H113
Word #:
31 of 35
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
הֲל֕וֹא
H3808
הֲל֕וֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
32 of 35
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
בְּרָאשֵׁ֖י
should it not be with the heads
H7218
בְּרָאשֵׁ֖י
should it not be with the heads
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
33 of 35
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
Cross References
1 Samuel 14:21Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.1 Chronicles 12:19And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
Historical Context
The Hebrew 'satan' here means adversary or opponent, not the later theological sense of Satan. The princes' fear that David might betray them at the battle's critical moment was strategically reasonable given his history and the stakes involved.
Questions for Reflection
- How do past reputations affect present trust, even when behavior has changed?
- What wisdom exists in the concerns of those who distrust us?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The princes' anger and their reasoning reveal the fear underlying their suspicion. Their concern that David might become 'an adversary' (Hebrew: 'satan,' opponent, accuser) in battle reflects sound military judgment: a defector might re-defect at the crucial moment. The rhetorical question about how David might 'reconcile himself unto his master' (Hebrew: 'adonayw,' Saul as lord) suggests they understood the political reality better than Achish. The reference to 'the heads of these men' recalls David's trophies of Philistine heads, now potentially turned against them.