John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And David arose , etc.] From the place where he was: and he passed over ; the borders of land of Canaan: with the six hundred men that [were] with him ; having neither lost any, nor had any added to him, since he was at Keilah, ( 1 Samuel 23:13); unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath ; whether this was the same Achish David was with before, ( 1 Samuel 21:10-13), is not certain; it seems as if he was not the same, since he is described as the son of Maoch, as if it was to distinguish him from him; though it is not improbable that he was the same person. Some think that he is described not from his father, but from his mother, whose name was Maacha. The circumstances of David were now very much altered from what they were when he went to Gath before; then he went secretly, now openly; then as a person unknown, now as well known; then alone, now with six hundred men; then when discovered he was seized by the princes of Gath, and brought before the king, and was driven from his presence; but now he came either at the invitation of Achish, hearing how he had been treated by Saul, and thinking to attach him to his interest, and make him more and more the enemy of Saul, and so free himself from a very powerful one, and of whose wisdom and prudence, and military skill, and courage, and valour, he might hope to avail himself; or David sent an embassy to him, to treat with him about his coming into his country, and settlement in it, and terms to mutual satisfaction were agreed upon.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Unbelief is a sin that easily besets even good men, when without ar fightings, and within are fears; and it is a hard matter to get ove them. Lord, increase our faith! We may blush to think that the word of a Philistine should go further than the word of an Israelite, and tha 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 gained a comfortabl settlement, not only at a distance from Gath, but bordering upo Israel, where he might keep up a correspondence with his ow countrymen.
Original Hebrew ויקם6965 דוד1732 ויעבר5674 הוא1931 ושׁשׁ8337 מאות3967 אישׁ376 אשׁר834 עמו5973 אל413 אכישׁ397 בן1121 מעוך4582 מלך4428 גת׃1661
