Shmuel I Chapter 27 | David in the Philistine Camp

David no longer trusts Sha’ul’s promises not to harm him and seeks refuge from Sha’ul’s pursuit. He turns to his last resort, which he had tried before: going to the Philistines, to Akhish, king of Gat. What is David looking for among the Philistines?

This connects to David’s earlier visit to Akhish (Chapter 21). There, David went to Akhish carrying Golyat’s sword, an act symbolizing submission — returning to the hands of the Philistines the object that once represented victory over them. Akhish, perhaps even then, understood that David intended to betray Israel and join the Philistines, but only due to his servants' opposition did he reject David at that time.

In our chapter, Akhish welcomes David with open arms, perhaps because of the tension between David and the people of Zif, who frequently inform Sha’ul about his whereabouts, as well as David’s preparation for war against Naval the Carmelite. David had earned a reputation as the leader of a rogue band, seemingly at war with the tribe of Yehuda, so the Philistines are now willing to accept him among them.

David continues to build the narrative that he has switched sides; he is no longer a high-ranking officer in Sha’ul’s service and an enemy of the Philistines; now, David is an enemy of Yehuda: “Akhish would ask, ‘Where did you go raiding today?’ And David would answer, ‘The Negev of Yehuda’” (27:10). David lives a double life, trying to cover up any evidence that could expose his deception: “David never left any men or women alive to bring to Gat, for he thought, ‘They might inform on us, saying, “This is what David was doing.”’” (27:11).

But in the next chapter, things will get complicated. David’s pretense will be tested when the Philistines go to war against Israel. Will David join them and prove his loyalty to the Philistines and his enmity toward Israel? In Chapters 28-29, there is great tension surrounding this question between Akhish, the Philistine commanders, and David. Akhish is sure of David’s loyalty to him, but David responds in very ambiguous terms (28:2). Ultimately, David is sent back from the war due to pressure from the Philistine commanders. But what would David have done had he not been sent back? Would he have fought on the side of the Philistines? Perhaps he planned to act as a fifth column and betray the Philistines in the midst of the battle to help Israel? Ralbag suggests that this was indeed David’s plan, but Abarbanel rejects this interpretation, arguing that morally it is out of the question that David would betray Akhish, who had saved him earlier.

[The summary above is based on a shiur given by Rav Medan on the Book of Shmuel.]