1 Samuel 27

1 Samuel 27:10

10.—a road] Or an excursion. Dr. Wells. —Against the south of Judah, &c.] He answers Achish artfully in these ambiguous words; that he might understand him to have assaulted the land of Judah itself, whereas he had in reality assaulted the people who bordered on the parts he mentions. Bp. Patrick. It is hard to reconcile this management with justice, truth, or gratitude; neither are we bound to justify or approve all the actions even of good men recorded in Scripture. Dr. Wall. David’s answer was ambiguous, but true; for all those people whom he mentions actually dwelt on the south of Judah: but Achish understood the answer as implying that the incursion was made on Judah, which David did not assert. If he was to be blamed, it was for giving an ambiguous answer to a question which he was not obliged to answer directly. Dr. Chandler. David’s conduct does not seem to admit strictly of defence, for he certainly practised a deception: and it must be allowed, that all habits of deception have a natural tendency to bias the mind, and warp it from truth; they should therefore be avoided, even where the purpose of the deception is innocent, as was the case here. Dr. Delaney. Chap. XXVIII. ver. 2.—keeper of mine head] Meaning, captain of his guard, or some great officer near his person. Bp. Patrick.