WHAT ABOUT THOSE HEBREWS?
Has God ever used someone who was totally unaware of what they were doing in order to save you from disaster? The Philistines, who asked one simple question of their King, did just that for David. Because they asked “What about those Hebrews?” David was spared from going into battle against his own people. At the same time, his arrangement with the Philistine King was protected. Most importantly, he was able to return to his land and rescue his household from his enemies.
By watching David’s actions in this next part of our story, we can lean into and trust the faithful timing of God’s providence for our own life circumstances. Looking back, it is easy to see how God was at work behind the scenes, even in the bleakest moments. I love how every time he seems to be hitting a dead-end, David holds on to his hope for God’s provision.
TRUSTING GOD TO HANDLE DIFFICULTIES
The Philistines gathered their forces at Aphek. Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. The Philistines marched through the area with units of hundreds and thousands. David and his men were marching with them. They served as the designated body guards for King Achish. The commanders of the Philistines noticed these new men in their army. They asked, “What about those Hebrews?”
King Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul King of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”
DAVID’S REPUTATION PRECEEDS HIM
But the Philistine commanders were angry with King Achish. They quickly told him to send David back to the place he had been assigned in Ziklag. The head warriors of the Philistines insisted that David must not go into battle with them. They feared he would turn against them in the middle of the battle. The thoughts were that he might gain favor with King Saul by taking the heads of their men for trophies. (Remember what happened with Goliath?) They reminded King Achish that this was the David of whom the people sang about in their dances chanting “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
So, King Achish called David into a meeting. The King told David that he trusted him to be a good body-guard, but the Philistine commanders did not approve.
DAVID’S RESPONSE
I’m sure David was feeling a bit squeamish by now. He had no desire to go into a battle against Israel. Yet he did not give his hand away. As a matter of fact, David questioned this logic asking “What have I done? What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the King?”
Achish stated that he knew David to be as pleasing in his eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine Commanders demanded, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ Thus the King of the Philistines advised David to take his men and leave as soon as it was light.
WHAT HAPPENED IN DAVID’S HOME
David left early in the morning. He took his men and went back to the land of the Philistines. The Philistines continued going up to Jezreel.
On the third day David and his men reached Ziklag. To their surprise, the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it. All of the women and children were taken captive, both young and old. Plunder was great in the land. Unknown to David and his men at the time, none of the captives were killed. They were just carried away.
DAVID CONSULTS GOD
So, David’s tired and weary men reaching their homes in Ziklag realized their wives, sons and daughters had been taken captive. They wept until they had no strength left to weep. David was deeply distressed. His own men were so upset they were thinking of stoning him.
However, David found his strength from God. He asked for the ephod. It was brought to him. David inquired of the Lord asking if he should pursue the Amalekites. God told David to pursue them. YHWH assured David he would certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.
CROSSING THE BESOR VALLEY
So, David and his 600 men came to the Besor Valley. Some stayed behind. Two hundred were too exhausted to cross the valley. David and the other four hundred continued. As they traveled the men of David’s army found an Egyptian in a field. They took him to David. David had someone give him food and water. Part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins were given to him. He ate and was revived of his hunger. He had not eaten or even sipped a drink of water for three days and nights. When the man regained his strength David asked who he belonged to and where he came from.
THE EGYPTIAN IN THE FIELD
The man answered by stating that he was an Egyptian. He was also the slave of an Amalekite. His master had abandoned him when he became ill three days ago. He stated they had raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. The man also stated they had burned Ziklag.
David asked him to lead him to this group of raiders. The man said he would do so if David would swear not to kill him, or to turn him back over to his master. David agreed. Then the man led them to a place where David and his men saw the Amalekite raiders scattered over the countryside. They were eating, drinking, reveling, while enjoying the plunder they had taken from the Philistines and Judah.
David fought them from dusk until evening of the next day. No one got away, except for 400 men who fled on camels. David collected his two wives and all the plunder the Amalekites had taken from his men. Then David brought everything back.
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
On the way back David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow with him. These men came out to meet him. He returned their wives and children. The other men with David thought these men who had not fought should not share in the plunder. However, David corrected them. He said the Lord had protected them.
David said “The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” He made this a statute of Israel to be kept forever.
When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. David’s messengers said, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.” Then David sent plunder to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir. Also, he included those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa and Rakal. Moreover, he sent plunder to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites. He sent plunder to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athak and Hebron; and to those in all places where he and his men had roamed.
GOD PROTECTS DAVID
So, we see that, unlike Saul, David consulted with God before striking out against his enemies. He didn’t go ahead and make his own plan. God told David what to do. David was faithful and obedient to do so. David and his men were prevented from going into battle. Thus, they were able to meet the Egyptian slave. This Egyptian slave was the one who told them about their wives and children who had been taken. Thus, they were saved. In time all of these difficult circumstances proved favorable to David and his men. God’s timing is everything.
These were very stressful times in very bad circumstances. David and his men were under great duress. They stayed strong and waited for God’s answers. God helped David and his men to rescue their families. They were able to recover their property. Because they were careful to obey God and not make their own plans, they were in the right place at just the right time.
David went back to what was left of his home. This was the time he wrote Psalm 18. Psalm 18 is a Psalm of praise for all God has done. It is well worth reading whenever you have the time.
So what about those Hebrews? In the end they were completely in awe of how awesome a God they served. God had given them back their families, their possessions and more. They had been able to send gifts of the plunder to their brothers and sisters who up to this point, might have wondered about David’s allegiance to Israel. Now there was no reason for those in Judah to doubt David’s loyalty. Those who humble themselves before God, practice obedience, faith with complete trust are never forsaken.
PRAYER: O Holy God, please always protect us from our own devices. Like David, teach us to lean on you. Help us to always walk within Your perfect will. Show us how to stay in rhythm with your perfect timing. Thank you for the protection you keep over those who love and follow you.