Philistines – Old Testament Survey

2 Samuel 8

When God provides victories in your life, do you give Him the honor, praise, and glory for them? Or, do you hoard them yourself?

2 Samuel 8 (cf. 1 Chronicles 18)

The theme of this chapter can be seen in two verses, verses 6 and 14. In both of these, the writer states that “Jehovah gave victory to David wherever he went.” The kingdom is growing, through the hand of David by the will of God. This chapter recounts the kings David vanquished (the Philistines, the Moabites, the king of Zobah, the Syrians, and the Edomites [1-8]), the wealth he acquired in these conquests (9-10), and how he ruled his people (15-18). Since David sought God first (2 Samuel 6), God blessed David with a kingdom (Matthew 6.33).

Even the spoils David took, he offered to God for the building of the Temple under Solomon (11).

When God provides victories in your life, do you give Him the honor, praise, and glory for them? Or, do you hoard them yourself?

Historical Notes

Verse 2-two of three would be put to death
Verse 6-from Damascus to the Euphrates
Verse 13-David won a name for himself. Interestingly, David’s name appears twenty-one times in this chapter.
Verse 16-For more on Joab, read our studies in 1 Samuel 26, 2 Samuel 2, 2 Samuel 3, and 1 Chronicles 11.
Verse 18-For more on Abiathar, read our studies in 1 Samuel 30 and 1 Samuel 21-24.
As for the numbers involved in this chapter and in 1 Chronicles, the following numbers are given:

from the Syrians (Arameans) one thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and 20,000 footmen (soldiers) were captured. As well, 22,000 Aramean soldiers were killed. Thus, the 40,000 “horsemen” (2 Sam. 10:18) and 40,000 footmen (v. 18) are merely rounded-off figures for the 42,000 foot soldiers either captured or slain. The word “horsemen” in 2 Samuel 10:18 is thus used imprecisely or may have been miscopied from the listing in 2 Samuel 8:4 (King James Version study Bible. 1997).

1 Samuel 30

Good morning! It is almost time to think we can rest; only to find out we have a family that desires our attention, time, love, and, most of all, our vehicles for transporting them.

This was what happened, sort of, to David in 1 Samuel 30.

1 Samuel 30

David returns home, as Achish had suggested. His home was in Ziklag. When he returned, Saul’s sin was there to greet him. He might have thought he was returning home to rest. However, he found the Amalekites. In 1 Samuel 15 we learned that Saul did not utterly destroy the Amalekites. Because of Saul’s inability to completely obey the Lord, David’s army is greeted with a destroyed town, missing families, and potential death.

When we do not rid ourselves of sin or allow something to remain in our lives that God has commanded us to get rid of (sins, which could include people), we and those around us can become ensnared by them once again. What is it that you see you need to get rid of in your life now to be free from its presence, power, and potential harm in the future?

David, before going into battle, does what we should do when we are presented with trouble in our lives, he prayed for God’s direction. David did the same thing in 1 Samuel 23.2-9, it was here that Abiathar joined David’s group. David’s army splits into two groups. Four hundred follow him into battle, while the other remaining two hundred stay at Wadi Besor to rest and prepare themselves for later. The Wadi Besor is a creek bed south of Ziklag. The exhaustion of the two hundred should have been expected. They traveled fifty miles from Aphek, found their town in ruins, then traveled 12-15 miles to Wadi Besor without supplies or rest.
God provides David with an abandoned Egyptian servant of the Amalekites. When he became sickly, the Amalekites deserted him. When David found him, he nursed him to health. It appears as though David has a kind heart. Deuteronomy 23.15-16 gives instruction not to return runaway slaves to their former masters. I wonder how this would have played out in the South during the 1800s.

When David finds the Amalekites, they are celebrating what they had done. David waged an attack on them, and suddenly destroyed all of them (1 Thessalonians 5.3-it applies to the end times but can be applied here and elsewhere when we place our security in the things of this world). All that had been taken from Ziklag and the other places they attacked, was restored (verse 19).

David reinstitutes an old principle, which is to divide the spoils with all those involved not merely those who fought (Numbers 31.26-27). David then sends some of the gain to “his friends” in Judah. The cities listed, particularly Hebron, will play an important role when David returns to Judah as king.

How faithful are we to what God has commanded us? Do we utterly destroy the things He commands us to rid ourselves of or do we hold on to a memory of them? Do we share what God has blessed us with or do we keep it for ourselves? Do we reach out to those who are our friends, even though they may have hurt us in the past?

The crux of this passage can be missed quite easily. Return to verse 6. David was in danger. What did he do? He went to God for strength (Isaiah 40.29-31). When you are tired, weary, burdened, to whom do you turn (Matthew 11.28-30)?

1 Samuel 29

A parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 12 (particularly verses 19-20). I haven’t been referencing the Chronicles to this point. I may return to previous posts and cross-reference them at a later date.

David is now caught in his deception but not revealed. 1 Samuel 28.1 presents David’s promotion to the bodyguard of Achish. Here David is called to war against the Israelites. God gives him an out when the commanders other than Achish doubt David’s loyalty to Achish and against Saul. They remind Achish of who David is in the eyes of the Israelites. This does not cause doubt in Achish but gives him reason to send David back to Ziklag (chapter 30).

Achish praises David for his loyalty to him. David feigns disappointment, makes an attempt to go to battle, but, then, goes home to Ziklag.

When we read this and the previous chapters, we know that David appeared to have lied to Achish and was being duplicitous. David was not attacking Philistine encampments but other enemies of Israel. This is why Achish would call David an honest man. He used terminology that David would know and appreciate when he compared David to “an angel of the Lord” (this phrase is used of David in 2 Samuel 14.17 and 19.27).

The song that turned Saul against David was well known (1 Samuel 18.7 and 21.11).

Aphek is an important location for the Philistines. Eli’s sons died there (1 Samuel 4), Saul and his sons died as-well (1 Samuel 31), and where the Ark was captured (1 Samuel 4).

This is a problem chapter to most people. Because David was not being honest with Achish in telling him that he was destroying Israelite towns instead of the enemies of Israel, many believe that David was behaving like Saul. A question I would ask: Did David lie when he withheld truth? Some would say those who are in the wrong don’t deserve all the truth. Do you agree with this?

1 Samuel 27.1-28.2

Ever get tired of doing what you are doing, thinking that you are wasting your time, always being used and abused, and never finding a moment’s rest? Well, welcome to life, even life for David.

1 Samuel 27.1-28.2 is our study for today and the first verse reminds me of our lives and an episode of Batman. In the cartoon, Batman is slumping over the Bat-Computer, Alfred walks into the Bat-Cave, and Batman turns to him and says, “Alfred, I’m tired.” He wanted to quit. We want to quit. David did quit. He decided to quit being betrayed by people in his tribe, his clan; he quit running from Saul’s treachery. He walked away. When he did this, he sinned. Read 1 Samuel 27 and see the things David did when he again placed himself under the authority of King Achish of Gath. The sin may not be the destruction of the cities because God had already ordered their destruction, which was not obeyed (Exodus 17.14; Joshua 13:13; 1 Samuel 15.2, 3). The sin occurred when David did not believe the God who delivered him from Goliath was unable to deliver him from Saul. David sought the grace of Achish (1 Samuel 27.5), not the grace of God. Do you consider what the Lord has done when contemplating what He will do? David attempted to save his own life instead of trusting God to help him. In doing this, he deceived, killed, and lied. He forgot the truth of Psalm 27, which he penned prior to this event.

David goes to Gath with his soldiers and their families. He takes with him Ahinoam and Abigail, two of his wives. David’s plan to have Saul cease his relentless pursuit worked. David deceives Achish. Achish gives him the area of Ziklag, which originally belonged to David’s tribe (Joshua 15.20-31) and was far enough from Gath (15 miles) for Achish not to check up on him. David allows Achish to believe that David is not for Israel but for the Philistines. He allows Achish to think David is destroying Israelite towns when he is destroying encampments of some enemies of Israel. David’s deception is so good that Achish makes David his body guard for life (1 Samuel 28.2). All this duplicity will place David in a quandary as the story in 1 Samuel unfolds.

What plans are you making that forget who God is and what He has commanded you to do? What sin and what deception do you find yourself in today? Have you considered the consequences of these actions or thoughts? What should you do about them?

1 Samuel 26

I am not sure whose payrolls the Ziphites were on; however, each time David hides in their territory, the report him to Saul (1 Samuel 23.15-29). In this chapter, they report David to Saul again. In 1 Samuel 24, David could have killed Saul but spared his life because Saul is God’s anointed. In this chapter the same story plays out for Saul and David.

1 Samuel 26

The stories are different in a few ways. David took Saul’s spear while he was “relieving” himself in chapter 24. In chapter 26 David takes Saul’s spear and water. Water was an important commodity in this arid place.

Three interesting characters are introduced in this chapter:

Abner was Saul’s first cousin. Ner was Saul’s uncle (1 Chronicles 9.35-44). David would later lament the death of Abner (2 Samuel 3.33-34).
Joab is the son of David’s sister, he killed Abner, would kill Uriah (2 Samuel 11.14-27), would kill others for David (2 Samuel 20.10), would not follow the revolt of David’s son Absalom, but would follow the revolt of David’s son Adonijah (1 Kings 2.28).
Abishai is the son of David’s sister (1 Chronicles 2.9-17).

This chapter presents the love David has for God and the trust he has in God. He refuses to kill Saul and entrusts Saul’s life into God’s hands. If God wants Saul dead, He will do it in His own time. He protects Saul again. Saul repents again. David compares himself to the most common insect in the area (here and in 1 Samuel 24.14). David is insignificant as compared to what Saul should be fighting (the giant Philistines?). Saul asks David to return; however, they both go their separate ways at the end of the chapter. David knew better than to trust the apparent repentance of Saul.

Whom are we fighting? Who comes against us? What are our reactions to them, no matter how many times they come?

Psalm 120

Psalm 120 is one of the songs of ascents. The others are Psalms 121-134. These were sung by the Israelites as they journeyed to Jerusalem for their annual feasts. Some say these are what Jesus sang on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane on the night He was betrayed by Judas (John 18).

Although this Psalm is not ascribed to David, it does reflect what was happening in David’s journeys through 1 Samuel.

Men, such as Doeg, were lying and stating evil of David. This does cause pain that lasts throughout life. Words can and do destroy us.

Meshech is a descendant of Japheth. He, and the location, are in major judgment from God in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 27.13, 21; 38.2, 3; and 39.1). Kedar is the second born from Ishmael. Kedar, the location, was to be destroyed by judgment from God (Isaiah 21.16 and 60.7).

The writer speaks his heart for peace while those around him speak for war. This could be a veiled reference to the time David spent in Gath with the Philistines who did not desire peace with Israel. Not much hope nor mention of God in the passage outside of deliverance from these evildoers.

Psalm 56

Psalm 56 is a Psalm of David when he was in Gath as found in 1 Samuel 21. He, again, gives praise to God for what He has done for him. When He delivers, we should praise Him. Do we?

Verses 1-4-The beginning of this Psalm presents David as tired. He is trampled and oppressed. Does this sound like your life? He places his trust in God, no matter the circumstance. He then praises God because he remembers that life is fleeting and only work for God matters in this life (Matthew 16.24-26). What can those around you do to you?

Verses 5-7-David tells us what they can do. They can injure and do harm us. In the end, God will judge righteously (Romans 12). If we truly believe that God is sovereign, this should be of comfort to us as we go through our daily struggles.

Verses 8-11-Because God is for him, nothing can stand against him. God loves us. Read these verses. He counts are tears, He records them, He is for us, He removes fear (Romans 8.31 and Psalm 118.6). This is so important that David mentions it twice. What is our response? It should daily be that of praise.

Verses 12-13-Because of what God has done for us, our natural response should be to praise Him, to keep His commands. These will not save us. However, because we are saved, we can now do them!

What are you doing today that He has asked you to do?

Long. Hard. Worth it? Yes.

1 Samuel 21-24

For the next few chapters, until the conclusion of the book, David is fleeing from Saul. We begin with David seeking sanctuary in a sanctuary. Good place to go, but not for bread and weapons. However, he found both there. Edomites are descended from Esau and are judged by God in Obadiah. We see their beginnings in Genesis 26.34-35 and Genesis 36. Esau rebels against his parents and pursues Canaanite women for wives. From this, an enemy of the Israelites springs. Saul has an Edomite as one of his leading shepherds. His name was Doeg. He tells Saul that David was protected and fed by the priests in Nob. In chapter 22 Saul orders the execution of the priest Ahimelech’s family because he helped David. The only person willing to carry out the order was Doeg. We will see David’s response to this later in 1 Samuel and in Psalm 52.

David goes to Gath with a sword of Goliath who was from . . . that’s right, Gath. When David goes to the city, the people recognize him as the soon-to-be-king. He fakes insanity and is let go.

In chapter 22 David is running from Saul toward the desolate cave of Adullum where the outcasts of Israel join his army. He takes care of his family by sending them to the Moabites. Refer to Ruth for background on the Moabites. This chapter shows the insane paranoia of Saul when he slaughters the descendants of Ahimelech for giving David bread (1 Samuel 21). Ahimelech gives Saul the background of David’s commitment to Saul. Saul still rejects David and kills Ahimelech’s family by the hand of Doeg. One, as always, escapes. His name is Abiathar. He proved faithful to David until David died. He was his high priest (Abiathar was the fourth generation from Eli).

Chapter 23 provides accounts of the relentless pursuit of Saul to kill David and David’s elude him. David stays in the wilderness of En-gedi during these days (cf. En-gedi and another En-gedi). As a bit of relief, David is introduced to Abiathar and Jonathan pledges his loyalty to David. It is strange that Saul could not find David but Jonathan could. When David wants to be found, he is; when he doesn’t want to be found, he isn’t. Does this sound like God?

Saul’s relentless pursuit continues in chapter 24. This time David could have killed Saul. Instead, David shows his loyalty to Saul because of his loyalty to God. Saul was relieving himself. The Hebrew states: “he covered his feet.” In other words, he was “dumping a load.” Saul relents from his relentless pursuit for a while. He will continue it in chapter 26. Here, however, Saul acknowledges that David will be king.

There are times we need to hide from those who pursue us, there are times we need to confront those who pursue us, and the time is always that we remain loyal to God’s Word and call in our life. Despite the circumstances, we need to remain true to His calling and purpose for us. How are you doing?

1 Samuel 18-19

A review of the regression of Saul seems appropriate here. He is chosen by God as a result of the disobedience of the people (1 Samuel 10, cf. Jeremiah 2 particularly verse 13 and Isaiah 50).

A review of the regression of Saul seems appropriate here. He is chosen by God as a result of the disobedience of the people (1 Samuel 10, cf. Jeremiah 2 particularly verse 13 and Isaiah 50). He receives the Holy Spirit temporarily. Remember that this is an Old Testament phenomenon. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit permanently indwells believers. After his willful rebellion against God, God replaces him with David (1 Samuel 16.13-14). The Spirit is removed from Saul and placed on David. This sets the stage for all that is to come through the rest of 1 Samuel. Our passage today begins in this milieu. David and Jonathan become great friends. Saul seems pleased with all that is occurring. The three of them battle the Philistines and are victorious. The people proclaim God’s work in and through both Saul and David. Saul becomes enraged, jealous, and seeks to kill David from that moment. He does not see God’s work but his. This returns us to the opening verses of 1 Samuel 17 where Saul is focused on himself, not God. When we focus on what we are doing and not on what God is doing, envy, jealousy, strife, anger, rage, etc. (Galatians 5.16-26) become our “fruit.” This is what happened with Saul.

God gives us over to our desires. Since Saul desired to disobey God and not walk in the Spirit, God gave him a spirit that was likened to his desires–an evil one. It is evidence here that Saul has gone crazy. The rest of his career is characterized by vengeance and violence against one who seeks Saul’s best. The remainder of Saul’s life is in pursuit of killing the one who refuses to kill him. What primary goal do you have in life? Is it pursuing your passions or God’s will? When we pursue our desires apart from God, we live insanely (reread Galatians 5.16ff). When we follow God’s will, we are blessed with the life we desire because we are in alignment with His will for us (Matthew 6.33 and 16.24-26).

We see Saul desiring to be part of David’s life in that he admired David’s accomplishments. But his desire to be number one consumed him and he demoted the one who was able to help him. Even in this demoted state, David grew in popularity, was successful, and even Saul stood in awe of him because David was walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

This motif continues throughout this chapter and the rest of the book. Saul tries to defeat David with many snares, David is victorious, and Saul gets angrier. At times, although sad, it is comical. Think about someone you know that became angry and then began to act foolishly. This is Saul.

He thinks if he can trick David into wanting to marry any daughter of his that David will die by the hand of the Philistines. His logic, “I don’t want David as a son-in-law, but if I can get him to want to marry my daughter he will have to pay a dowry. He won’t be able to afford it. So, I will make it the death of one-hundred Philistines. He will die in the battle. My daughter won’t have to marry him because he will be dead.” Foolish. If God is for us, who can be against us? No one! His planned failed, of course. David defeated the Philistines, his daughter Michal loved David, David became more famous, and Saul’s anger grew.
To make matters worse, Saul’s son Jonathan became David’s best friend. Jonathan even knew that David would take the throne from him. Jonathan was joyful about his because he knew this was God’s will. He didn’t think that because he was a prince that he had a right to the throne, it was in God’s hand. This is in line with what Christ did for us in Philippians 2.5-11.

In chapter 19 Saul’s family intercedes for David and helps him escape from the evil Saul planned for David. David flees to Ramah (just north of Jerusalem) to spend time with Samuel. This is where David begins his career fleeing for his life from the hand of Saul. The end of chapter 19 is odd and gives evidence of the Spirit coming and going while not permanently indwelling in the Old Testament.

Are we willing to stand for God no matter the cost like David, Jonathan, and Michal? Or, like Saul, do we try to sway the situation in our favor where people will like us and applaud us? What is the measure of your success?

1 Samuel 17

This chapter is not only a commentary on David’s replacing Saul as the military leader it is also a comment on the army and on Saul. Saul and his army shrink in fear before Goliath. I don’t think it is a spoiler alert but David slays the giant in God’s strength for His glory.

Map of Israel before David was king. This map shows the place where David met Goliath.

It seems from verses 1-11 that the people of Israel forgot an important part of their existence; they are the people of God, making them the army of God, and making them invulnerable as long as they are working toward His purpose. God called them to rid the nation of Philistines. It seems they could not remember that God promised them the land and promised that He would be with them. Partly because of Saul and his rebellion against God, partly due to their preoccupying their mind with the circumstances of the day, and partly because they were listening to the taunts of their enemy and believing what he said. Goliath reminded them each day that he was a Philistine, who the Israelites were to drive out, and that statement is true. He then told them a lie. He told the Israelites that they belonged to Saul’s army, not God’s army. The lie was enveloped in the truth and the Israelites did not take every thought captive. In so doing, they believed the lie.

Our enemy does this to us as well. He will tell us truth. For example, you are a Christian. He then will tell the lie that we cannot be accepted by God because of sinful habits. The only way to get closer to God is by breaking those habits before we attempt to get closer. We believe the lie that is in the truth and are crushed in despair. The truth is you are a Christian (if you have accepted Him into your life). The truth is you sin (we all do). The truth is you have sinful habits. The lie comes when he tells you that you have to get better before God wants you to come to Him. We cannot get better outside of Him. It is He that we go to get better. This same scheme was used on Adam in the Garden and on Jesus in the Wilderness. One fell because he relied on his own word and the other overcame because He relied on God’s Word. We need to know the truth to be free. John 17 reminds us that God’s Word is Truth and John 14 informs us that Jesus is the Truth (the Word personified in John 1). Zechariah 3 presents this truth as Satan accuses Joshua, the High Priest, of not being acceptable to God. God then rebukes Satan with the truth. Are you accurately handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2.15)?

Goliath asks for a man to do battle with him. There is no answer, merely an interlude on what David is doing. If you recall, David was anointed as king in 1 Samuel 16. This chapter is historically out of place to confirm that David, not Saul, is the true king of Israel. After this chapter, the troops and the citizenry of Israel hail David as greater than Saul, which produces the fugitive motif of the remaining chapters. David is the hero, and Saul is the zero. The latter seeks to destroy the former.

David is obedient to his father which is a godly character trait based on the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). He does even the menial tasks his father asks him to do. He tends the sheep, plays for Saul, and takes lunches to three of his brothers. Where were the other four?

It is in this chapter we begin to see another character trait of David. He is full of passion that leads him to the heights of glory as he slays Goliath and the depths of corruption as he murders his best general because of his adultery. His passion for God’s glory is clear here. Each day for forty days Goliath taunts not just God’s army but God as well. David needs to do something about that. When God is being dishonored, do you step up and demand it stop, even preparing in your mind for battle? Have you already prepared your mind with words for such instances? You should. Peter commands us to be ready for times such as these (1 Peter 3.15).

A moment with Goliath. He is more than nine feet tall. His job is to battle other strongmen from other armies and to strike fear into the hearts of those who see him. He has four brothers (2 Samuel 21.18-21) which would explain the five stones and not one. He was ready to take out Goliaths’ entire family. He went ready.
We know the rest of the story. David asks permission to fight Goliath. He actually begs Saul for this privilege. He gives testimony of all God has done in and through him. David prepares to battle Goliath. Saul gives David his armor. David refuses because he does not know how to use them. He walks out with his sling and his stones. Goliath mocks not David because he is not a man and mocks God, again. David proclaims that his power is not in his sling nor in the stones. He states his power to defeat Goliath is in God; the God of Israel will defeat Goliath. This is where David did not believe the lie. He knew this was God’s army going in God’s strength, under God’s guidance, not Saul’s nor his. He killed Goliath. The Philistines did not surrender as promised. They ran away. David took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem. Legend has it that he buried it on a hill outside the city and this is where the name “Golgotha” or “Place of the Skull” came into being. This is also the place where Christ was crucified (Matthew 27.33).

A point of interest, in 2 Samuel 21.18-22 another Bethlehemite kills another Goliath of Gath. This could be one of the brothers of Goliath. The phrase states that David and his servants killed all them. I wonder if he carried the other four stones for such a time as that. After that moment, David sings a song of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance from them and other enemies (2 Samuel 22).

The Israelites chased the Philistines, killed them. David was brought before Saul. David submitted himself to Saul’s authority. This is another character trait of David that is evident in the remaining chapters of 1 Samuel.

David and Saul’s character are compared. One followed the truth, was obedient to the Word, was submissive to authority, the authority both of his father and of Saul, and was victorious. The other lived in fear of the lies he believed and was defeated. Who would you rather be like?