1 Samuel 27:4

1 Samuel 27:4

ESV: And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.

KJV: And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.

NIV: When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

NKJV: And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; so he sought him no more.

NLT: Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him.

Meaning

First Samuel chapter 27, verse 4 indicates that once Saul received news that David had sought refuge in Gath, he ceased his relentless pursuit of him. This cessation of Saul's pursuit was a divinely orchestrated pause, bringing a temporary period of rest for David from his persistent enemy, highlighting God's providential care for His anointed.

Cross References

| Verse | Text | Reference ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|| Ps 3:7 | Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For You strike all my enemies... | God as Deliverer from foes || Ps 7:1 | O Lord my God, in You do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers... | Seeking divine refuge and salvation || Ps 18:3 | I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.| Deliverance from enemies || Ps 18:48 | ...who delivers me from my enemies; You set me high above my adversaries...| God sets His servant above adversaries || Ps 23:5 | You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... | God's provision even amidst danger || Ps 27:5 | For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble... | God provides refuge and protection || Ps 34:19 | Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him... | God delivers from many afflictions || Ps 37:32 | The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. | The wicked's relentless pursuit || Ps 57:1 | Be gracious to me, O God... for in You my soul takes refuge... | Trusting God for refuge in trouble || Ps 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; the remainder of wrath You will restrain.| God restrains human malice || Prov 16:7 | When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies at peace... | God can turn enemies' hearts || Isa 14:3 | When the Lord has given you rest from your pain... | God granting rest from suffering || Jer 30:10 | ...do not fear, O Jacob My servant... for behold, I will save you... | God saves His servant and provides security || Lam 3:58 | You have pleaded the causes of my soul, O Lord; You have redeemed my life.| God as Redeemer and defender || Zep 3:15 | The Lord has taken away your judgments; He has cleared away your enemy... | God removes adversaries and brings security || 1 Sam 23:25 | Saul pursued David in the wilderness of Maon... | Saul's constant pursuit (direct context) || 1 Sam 24:2 | ...Saul took 3,000 chosen men... and went to seek David... | Saul's persistence in seeking David || 1 Sam 26:2 | Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with 3,000 men... | Saul's continuing, zealous pursuit || Acts 18:9-10 | ...Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking... I am with you... | God assures protection in mission || 2 Thess 3:2 | ...that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men... | Prayer for deliverance from wicked individuals || 2 Tim 4:18 | The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely... | God's ultimate deliverance to His kingdom || Heb 4:9 | So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. | The concept of divine rest || Matt 10:23 | When they persecute you in one city, flee to another... | Principle of fleeing persecution |

Context

This verse appears after David, feeling the unending pressure of King Saul's pursuit, despairs and concludes that he will eventually "perish one day by the hand of Saul" (1 Sam 27:1). Consequently, he makes the drastic decision to flee to the land of the Philistines, the very enemies of Israel, seeking refuge with Achish, the king of Gath. This move was a human calculation of self-preservation, based on the assumption that Saul would cease to pursue him into enemy territory. David brought his two wives and his 600 men with their households to Gath (1 Sam 27:2-3). The news of David's new location reaching Saul and leading him to discontinue his pursuit marks a significant, albeit temporary, respite for David, enabling him to operate outside of Saul's immediate jurisdiction and further divine protection.

Word analysis

• And it was told Saul:

  • Signifies the efficiency of information gathering and relay within the ancient Near East, even between enemy territories, through spies or travelers.
  • Highlights Saul's continued obsession with David; he was constantly being informed about David's movements.
  • The implication is that Saul was still actively interested in David's whereabouts, even if not actively pursuing.

• that David:

  • Identifies the specific target of Saul's relentless persecution. David is the anointed of God, a rival in Saul's paranoid mind.

• was fled to Gath:

  • "Fled" (Hebrew: barach) implies escaping with haste, suggesting a sense of urgency and desperation on David's part. It describes a fugitive seeking asylum.
  • "Gath" (Hebrew: Gat), one of the five principal Philistine cities, was a powerful, fortified stronghold. Its name possibly relates to "winepress."
  • This choice of refuge was strategic and controversial. David had been here before (1 Sam 21:10-15) under different, more perilous circumstances, where he feigned madness to escape. His return to Gath, this time as a military retainer, was a radical departure from the norm for a loyal Israelite leader, signaling his deep despair regarding Saul. This was a move of calculated risk into a historically hostile pagan territory.

• and he sought no more again for him:

  • "Sought" (Hebrew: baqash) implies actively pursuing, searching, inquiring after, often with diligence and determination. It confirms Saul's prior persistence.
  • "No more again" (Hebrew: lo' ‘od): This strong double negative emphasizes the complete cessation of Saul's prior relentless hunt. The Philistine border, though not a geographical boundary God set for Israel, became a practical barrier for Saul.
  • The reason for cessation is not explicitly stated as weariness or divine intervention from Saul's perspective, but the result is a divinely ordained halt to the pursuit, aligning with God's ongoing protection of David. Saul considered it too risky or beneath his dignity to chase an Israelite hero into the land of Israel's bitterest enemies. It might also reflect Saul's perception that David had effectively abandoned Israel or rendered himself irrelevant to the succession, thereby taking himself out of the perceived threat to Saul's throne.

Commentary

First Samuel 27:4 marks a crucial turning point in David's wilderness years. It signifies the end of Saul's immediate and fervent hunt for David, primarily due to David's strategic (though humanly motivated) move into Philistine territory. From a divine perspective, this cessation was not merely a pragmatic decision by Saul but God's providential hand intervening to give David a period of much-needed rest and respite from constant persecution. While David's faith may have wavered when he expressed that he would "perish one day by the hand of Saul" (1 Sam 27:1), God's protection did not waver. The King of Israel chose not to pursue His rival into enemy land, an unexpected outcome that nevertheless served God's ultimate plan for David to inherit the throne, away from Saul's immediate grasp. This brief reprieve, orchestrated by divine sovereignty over human decisions, highlights that even in challenging circumstances, God works through various means—including human political dynamics—to preserve His chosen ones and fulfill His promises.

Bonus section

The move to Gath highlights the tension between David's reliance on human strategies and God's consistent provision. While Saul's cessation of pursuit appears to be a direct result of David's relocation to enemy territory, it implicitly serves God's purposes to grant David relief. This period allowed David to establish himself and his forces without direct confrontation from Saul, inadvertently preparing him for his eventual kingship by giving him time to lead and govern in a micro-scale. It also serves as a subtle example of God using unexpected means, even pagan contexts, to protect His covenant purposes.

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