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David was a man after God's own heart, and yet he had his faults, which are recorded, not for our imitation, but for our admonition; witness the story of this chapter, in which, though, I. We find, to his praise, that he prudently took care of his own safety and his family's (1Sa 27:2-4) and valiantly fought Israel's battles against the Canaanites (1Sa 27:8-9), yet, II. We find, to his dishonour, 1. That he began to despair of his deliverance, 1Sa 27:1. 2. That he deserted his own country, and went to dwell in the land of the Philistines, 1Sa 27:1,5-7. 3. That he imposed upon Achish with an equivocation, if not a lie, concerning his expedition, 1Sa 27:10-12.
1-7
David Returns to Gath (1055 BC)
简体中文
大卫重返迦特（主前1055年）
¹ 大卫心里说："必有一日我死在扫罗手里，不如逃奔非利士地去。这样，扫罗必绝望，不再在以色列境内四处寻索我，我就可以脱离他的手。" ² 于是大卫起身，带着跟随他的六百人投奔迦特王玛俄的儿子亚吉去了。 ³ 大卫和他的两个妻子——耶斯列人亚希暖，和作过拿八妻的迦密人亚比该——并跟随他的人，各人带着眷属，都住在迦特的亚吉那里。 ⁴ 有人告诉扫罗说大卫逃奔迦特去了，扫罗就不再寻索他。 ⁵ 大卫对亚吉说："我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你在郊野的城邑中赐我一个地方，使我住在那里。仆人为何与王同住京城呢？" ⁶ 当日亚吉将洗革拉赐给他，因此洗革拉属犹大诸王，直到今日。 ⁷ 大卫在非利士人之地居住的日子，共是一年零四个月。
这里我们看到：I\. 大卫因信心软弱而生出的恐惧之盛行（撒上27:1）：他心里说（原文可如此读）——他在心中与自己交通现今的处境时说——我必有一日死在扫罗手里。 他向自己陈明扫罗那无可平息的狂怒与恶意（扫罗不能被挽回至和好），又想到自己同胞的背叛，西弗人即是一例，且不止一次；他衡量自己的兵力，见其甚少，许久也没有增援前来，看不出自己有何进展；于是他在愁苦的心境中，得出这个阴暗的结论：我必有一日死在扫罗手里。 然而，你这小信的人哪，为什么疑惑呢？ 他岂不是受膏要作王么？这岂不暗含他必被保全直到得国的保证？纵然他没有理由信靠扫罗的承诺，岂不是有万般的理由信靠神的应许么？他过去经历 Providence（神护理）对他特别的看顾，本应激励他。那曾搭救的，必仍要搭救。但不信是容易缠累善人的罪。当外有争战，内有惧怕时，要胜过它们实非易事。主啊，加增我们的信心！
II\. 他因此所定的主意。如今扫罗这一次已经回本处去了，大卫决定趁机退入非利士人之地。他只与自己的心商议，并未求问以弗得或先知，便断定：不如我速速逃奔非利士地去。 长久的试炼，极易使极善之人的信心与忍耐都疲乏。如今，1. 扫罗将大卫逼入此绝境，实是自害其身，有害于己国。他赶逐了如大卫这般的大将，及其所统率的精兵，迫使他们转入仇敌麾下，这无异于削弱自己的势力。2. 大卫采取此策，也于己无益。神曾命他在犹大地张立旗帜（撒上22:5）。在那里神奇妙的保护了他，并有时借他造福本国；那他又何必想到离弃岗位呢？他若走出以色列地的疆界，怎能期望以色列之神仍护佑他呢？他方才险些从非利士人手中丧命——是装疯才得以脱身——难道还能指望在他们中间得平安么？他岂能从那些日后作王时不可报恩、反有义务要向其宣战之人手中领受恩惠呢？如此行，反倒称了仇敌的心——他们巴不得他去事奉别神，好有把柄毁谤他；又大大削弱了朋友的气势——他们无从答辩那毁谤。可见我们何等需要祷告：主啊，不叫我们遇见试探。
III\. 他在迦特所受的厚待。亚吉欢迎他，一部分出于慷慨——以能款待如此勇士为荣，一部分出于策略——盼望永远牢笼他来效忠，并以他的榜样吸引更多人叛逃归顺。亚吉无疑郑重应许保护大卫，这应许既出，大卫便可倚靠——而扫罗的承诺他不能信。我们当感到惭愧：一个非利士人的话竟比一个以色列人的话更可信——那真以色列人本应心里没有诡诈；迦特竟成为善人避难之所，而以色列诸城却拒他安然居住。大卫，1. 带了随从同来（撒上27:2），既可护卫自己，众人也可在他所在之处得安全，并借此向亚吉自荐——亚吉正指望从中得益。2. 他带了家眷同来——他的妻子和他的家眷，凡跟随他的人也都如此行（撒上27:2-3）。作一家之主的，当看顾交托给他的人，保护并供养自己家中的人，并以明智之人的样式与他们同住。
IV\. 扫罗不再进一步追捕他（撒上27:4）：他不再寻索他；这话暗示，尽管扫罗近日作出悔改的表态，他若够得着大卫，仍会再下毒手。只因不敢到他那去，才决定放他过去。许多人似乎离弃了罪，其实乃是罪离弃了他们；若能行，他们必仍持守罪中。扫罗不再寻索他，既不能得他血债，便以放逐为足，或可盼望（如他从前所作的，撒上18:25）大卫有一日要死在非利士人手里；虽他宁肯亲手毁灭之乐，然而若由他们动手，他也心满意足——只要做得彻底。
V\. 大卫从迦特迁往洗革拉。
1\. 大卫请求迁居，既审慎又极谦和（撒上27:5）。（1.）这确属审慎。大卫深知在扫罗的宫廷中被嫉妒是何光景，在亚吉的朝中更当惧怕，故而辞却那里的尊荣，只愿在乡间得一居所，可较隐秘，较能自主，较少碍人之目。在自己的城邑中，他可更自由地践行信仰，更好地约束部下，不致如在迦特时那样，因非利士人的偶像崇拜使义心忧伤。（2.）他向亚吉所陈，则极谦和。他并不指定亚吉当赐何处，只求在乡间某城即可，听凭亚吉定夺（乞者不可择地）；他且陈明缘由："仆人为何要与王同住京城，挤碍于你，又得罪你左右的人呢？"注意：要站稳的，不可贪图高位；谦卑之人不慕居于京城。
2\. 亚吉因他所请而赐予他的，极为慷慨厚道（撒上27:6-7）：亚吉将洗革拉赐给他。 借此，（1.）以色列收回了古来的权利；因为洗革拉原属犹大支派所得之地（书15:31），其后又从那地业中，连同其他数城，分给了西缅（书19:5）。只是或从未被攻取，或非利士人在某次与以色列的争斗中将其夺取。也许他们取得得不义，亚吉是个通达尊贵之人，便借此机会归还。公义的神按公义审判。（2.）大卫得了一处便利的居所——既远离迦特，又毗邻以色列，可与本国同胞保持联络，待如今将要到来的变局时，他们也可前来归附。虽我们不见他在扫罗活着时增兵（因撒上30:10 记他仍只有那六百人），然而扫罗一死，那里便成了他朋友们的集结之地。不，似乎就在他因扫罗的缘故而隐匿之时，已有大批人前来归他，至少来表明他们的诚意（代上12:1-22）。大卫还另得一益：洗革拉自此并入王冠——至少其权益此后属犹大诸王（撒上27:6）。注意：因谦和、谦逊并甘于退隐，并不失什么。真实的益处追随那逃避虚幻荣华的人。大卫在此住了些日子，甚至四个月（撒上27:7，原文极可能如此读），或四个月有余：七十士译本读作数月；他如此长久地等候登基的既定时刻；因为信的人必不着急。
英文原文
David Returns to Gath (1055 BC)
¹ And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
² And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
³ And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
⁴ And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
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?
⁶ Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
⁷ And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
Here is, I. The prevalency of David's fear, which was the effect of the weakness of his faith (1Sa 27:1): He said to his heart (so it may be read), in his communings with it concerning his present condition, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. He represented to himself the restless rage and malice of Saul (who could not be wrought into a reconciliation) and the treachery of his own countrymen, witness that of the Ziphites, once and again; he looked upon his own forces, and observed how few they were, and that no recruits had come in to him for a great while, nor could he perceive that he got any ground; and hence, in a melancholy mood, he draws this dark conclusion: I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. But, O thou of little faith! wherefore dost thou doubt? Was he not anointed to be king? Did not that imply an assurance that he should be preserved to the kingdom? Though he had no reason to trust Saul's promises, had he not all the reason in the world to trust the promises of God? His experience of the particular care Providence took of him ought to have encouraged him. He that has delivered does and will. But unbelief is a sin that easily besets even good men. When without are fightings, within are fears, and it is a hard matter to get over them. Lord, increase our faith!
II. The resolution he came to hereupon. Now that Saul had, for this time, returned to his place, he determined to take this opportunity of retiring into the Philistines' country. Consulting his own heart only, and not the ephod or the prophet, he concludes, There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines. Long trials are in danger of tiring the faith and patience even of very good men. Now, 1. Saul was an enemy to himself and his kingdom in driving David to this extremity. He weakened his own interest when he expelled from his service, and forced into the service of his enemies, so great a general as David was, and so brave a regiment as he had the command of. 2. David was no friend to himself in taking this course. God had appointed him to set up his standard in the land of Judah, 1Sa 22:5. There God had wonderfully preserved him, and employed him sometimes for the good of his country; why then should he think of deserting his post? How could he expect the protection of the God of Israel if he went out of the borders of the land of Israel? Could he expect to be safe among the Philistines, out of whose hands he had lately escaped so narrowly by feigning himself mad? Would he receive obligations from those now whom he knew he must not return kindness to when he should come to be king, but be under an obligation to make war upon? Hereby he would gratify his enemies, who bade him go and serve other gods that they might have wherewith to reproach him, and very much weaken the hands of his friends, who would not have wherewith to answer that reproach. See what need we have to pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation.
III. The kind reception he had at Gath. Achish bade him welcome, partly out of generosity, being proud of entertaining so brave a man, partly out of policy, hoping to engage him for ever to his service, and that his example would invite many more to desert and come over to him. No doubt he gave David a solemn promise of protection, which he could rely upon when he could not trust Saul's promises. We may blush to think that the word of a Philistine should go further than the word of an Israelite, who, if an Israelite indeed, would be without guile, and that the city of Gath should be a place of refuge for a good man when the cities of Israel refuse him a safe abode. David, 1. Brought his men with him (1Sa 27:2) that they might guard him, and might themselves be safe where he was, and to recommend himself the more to Achish, who hoped to have service out of him. 2. He brought his family with him, his wives and his household, so did all his men, 1Sa 27:2,3. Masters of families ought to take care of those that are committed to them, to protect and provide for those of their own house, and to dwell with them as men of knowledge.
IV. Saul's desisting from the further prosecution of him (1Sa 27:4): He sought no more again for him; this intimates that notwithstanding the professions of repentance he had lately made, if he had had David in his reach, he would have aimed another blow. But, because he dares not come where he is, he resolves to let him alone. Thus many seem to leave their sins, but really their sins leave them; they would persist in them if they could. Saul sought no more for him, contenting himself with his banishment, since he could not have his blood, and hoping, it may be (as he had done, 1Sa 18:25), that he would, some time or other, fall by the hand of the Philistines; and, though he would rather have the pleasure of destroying him himself, yet, if they do it, he will be satisfied, so that it be done effectually.
V. David's removal from Gath to Ziklag.
1. David's request for leave to remove was prudent and very modest, 1Sa 27:5. (1.) It was really prudent. David knew what it was to be envied in the court of Saul, and had much more reason to fear in the court of Achish, and therefore declines preferment there, and wishes for a settlement in the country, where he might be private, more within himself, and less in other people's way. In a town of his own he might have the more free exercise of his religion, and keep his men better to it, and not have his righteous soul vexed, as it was at Gath, with the idolatries of the Philistines. (2.) As it was presented to Achish it was very modest. He does not prescribe to him what place he should assign him, only begs it may be in some town in the country, where he pleased (beggars must not be choosers); but he gives this for a reason, "Why should thy servant dwell in the royal city, to crowd thee, and disoblige those about thee?" Note, Those that would stand fast must not covet to stand high; and humble souls aim not to dwell in royal cities.
2. The grant which Achish made to him, upon that request, was very generous and kind (1Sa 27:6,7): Achish gave him Ziklag. Hereby, (1.) Israel recovered their ancient right; for Ziklag was in the lot of the tribe of Judah (Jos 15:31), and afterwards, out of that lot, was assigned, with some other cities, to Simeon, Jos 19:5. But either it was never subdued, or the Philistines had, in some struggle with Israel, made themselves masters of it. Perhaps they had got it unjustly, and Achish, being a man of sense and honour, took this occasion to restore it. The righteous God judgeth righteously. (2.) David gained a commodious settlement, not only at a distance from Gath, but bordering upon Israel, where he might keep up a correspondence with his own countrymen, and whither they might resort to him at the revolution that was now approaching. Though we do not find that he augmented his forces at all while Saul lived (for, 1Sa 30:10, he had but his six hundred men), yet, immediately after Saul's death, that was the rendezvous of his friends. Nay, it should seem, while he kept himself close because of Saul, multitudes resorted to him, at least to assure him of their sincere intentions, 1Ch 12:1-22. And this further advantage David gained, that Ziklag was annexed to the crown, at least the royalty of it pertained to the kings of Judah, ever after, 1Sa 27:6. Note, There is nothing lost by humility and modesty, and a willingness to retire. Real advantages follow those that flee from imaginary honours. Here David continued for some days, even four months, as it may very well be read (1Sa 27:7), or some days above four months: the LXX. reads it, some months; so long he waited for the set time of his accession to the throne; for he that believeth shall not make haste.
8-12
David Smites the Amalekites (1055 BC)
简体中文
大卫击杀亚玛力人（主前1055年）
⁸ 大卫和跟随他的人上去，侵夺基述人、基色人、亚玛力人；这些国民自古就是那地从书珥直到埃及地一带的居民。 ⁹ 大卫击打那地，无论男女都没有留下一个活口，又夺了牛、羊、驴、骆驼、衣物，回来见亚吉。 ¹⁰ 亚吉说：「你们今日侵夺了哪里？」大卫说：「侵夺了犹大的南地、耶拉篾人的南地、基尼人的南地。」 ¹¹ 大卫无论男女都没有留下一个活口，带信到迦特去；他心里说：「恐怕他们把我们的事告诉人，说：大卫如此行了。」这就是他住在非利士人之地时一贯的作法。 ¹² 亚吉信了大卫，心里说：「他使本族以色列人深深憎恶他；所以他必永远作我的仆人。」
这里记载大卫在非利士人之地时的作为——他对当灭之国余民的一次猛烈出击，他的成功，以及他向亚吉所作的报告。1. 在此举中我们可免去他不义与残忍之咎，因他所剪除的，是上天早已定意毁灭的百姓，而行这事的人，是上天早已命定掌权的人；所以这事当作，他也当作。他既受膏为耶和华争战，便不该在懒惰中闲坐，尽管他可在谦卑中退隐。他愿脱离扫罗之手的安全，不过是为要为以色列舍身。他报了神与这些国民的旧仇，同时又为自己和军队筹得粮草——因他们必靠刀剑度日。亚玛力人当尽被剪除。基述人和基色人大概就是亚玛力人的分支。扫罗因怜惜他们而被弃，大卫则在他接续之前补上他未尽的顺服。他击打他们，不留一个活口（撒上27:8-9）。这事本身就有赏——因他们掠得大批战利品，可供大卫军队养生之用。2. 然而我们却不能免去他在出征报告上对亚吉的虚伪之咎。(1) 大卫似乎不愿他知道实情，所以一个送信到迦特的也不留（撒上27:11）——不是因为他以所行为耻而视为恶事，而是因为他怕非利士人若知道，便担心留他在其中会危及自己或同盟，要把他逐出他们的境界。这事很容易推断：他若如此行，这就是他一贯的作法；所以他刻意向他们隐瞒，看来他既能将他们尽行杀戮便能作到——因他们邻舍无人告发，所作之事也许要许久才为人知，那时情报传递不如今日之便。(2) 他用一句与他身分极不相称的含糊之辞把它瞒过亚吉。被问到他出击何方，他答：侵夺了犹大的南地（撒上27:10〔和合本注〕）。他侵夺那些在犹大以南的地，是真的；但他使亚吉以为他侵夺了犹大境内以南的地——比如曾一再出卖他的西弗人；亚吉如此领会，由此推论他已使本族以色列人憎恶他，从而把自己牢系于亚吉的利益上。亚吉对他的忠心、对他的好评、对他的信任，都加重了他如此欺骗的罪——这罪连同其他几件类似的事，大卫在祷告求你使我离开说谎的道时，似乎痛悔地回想。
英文原文
David Smites the Amalekites (1055 BC)
⁸ And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
¹¹ And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
¹² And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
Here is an account of David's actions while he was in the land of the Philistines, a fierce attack he made upon some remains of the devoted nations, his success in it, and the representation he gave of it to Achish. 1. We may acquit him of injustice and cruelty in this action because those people whom he cut off were such as heaven had long since doomed to destruction, and he that did it was one whom heaven had ordained to dominion; so that the thing was very fit to be done, and he was very fit to do it. It was not for him that was anointed to fight the Lord's battles to sit still in sloth, however he might think fit, in modesty, to retire. He desired to be safe from Saul only that he might expose himself for Israel. He avenged an old quarrel that God had with these nations, and at the same time fetched in provisions for himself and his army, for by their swords they must live. The Amalekites were to be all cut off. Probably the Geshurites and Gezrites were branches of Amalek. Saul was rejected for sparing them, David makes up the deficiency of his obedience before he succeeds him. He smote them, and left none alive, 1Sa 27:8,9. The service paid itself, for they carried off abundance of spoil, which served for the subsistence of David's forces. 2. Yet we cannot acquit him of dissimulation with Achish in the account he gave him of this expedition. (1.) David, it seems, was not willing that he should know the truth, and therefore spared none to carry tidings to Gath (1Sa 27:11), not because he was ashamed of what he had done as a bad thing, but because he was afraid, if the Philistines knew it, they would be apprehensive of danger to themselves or their allies by harbouring him among them and would expel him from their coasts. It would be easy to conclude, If so he did, so will be his manner, and therefore he industriously conceals it from them, which, it seems, he could do by putting them all to the sword, for none of their neighbours would inform against him, nor perhaps would soon come to the knowledge of what was done, intelligence not being so readily communicated then as now. (2.) He hid it from Achish with an equivocation not at all becoming his character. Being asked which way he had made his sally, he answered, Against the south of Judah, 1Sa 27:13. It was true he had invaded those countries that lay south of Judah, but he made Achish believe he had invaded those that lay south in Judah, the Ziphites for example, that had once and again betrayed him; so Achish understood him, and thence inferred that he had made his people Israel to abhor him, and so riveted himself in the interest of Achish. The fidelity of Achish to him, his good opinion of him, and the confidence he put in him, aggravate his sin in deceiving him thus, which, with some other such instances, David seems penitently to reflect upon when he prays, Remove from me the way of lying.
大卫是合神心意的人，然而他也有过失；这些过失被记录下来，并非作我们的榜样，而是作我们的鉴戒。本章所记即为一例：尽管 I. 我们看见他为可称赞之处——他审慎地顾全了自己与家人的安全（撒上 27:2-4），又英勇地为以色列与迦南人争战（撒上 27:8-9）——然而 II. 我们也看见他失色之处：1. 他开始对自己的得救绝望，撒上 27:1。2. 他离开本国，去住在非利士人之境，撒上 27:1,5-7。3. 他就自己出征之事欺瞒亚吉，所用者若非谎言，便是模棱两可之辞，撒上 27:10-12。