I Samuel 27:8 · Bible study
1 Samuel 27:8 Commentary: David’s Raids on God’s Ancient Enemies
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why David attacked the Geshurites, Girzites and Amalekites while in Philistine exile, and how this relates to God’s commands.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David, while in Philistine exile, attacks three ancient enemy tribes (Geshurites, Girzites, Amalekites) who lived south toward Egypt.
- Key words: Went up (H5927, alah, advanced for war); raided (H6584, pashat, stripped, invaded); of old (H5769, olam, antiquity).
- Main debate: Whether David’s actions were faithful obedience to God’s commands or a morally questionable mix of pragmatism and violence.
- Theological theme: God’s judgment on ancient enemies continues even through an exiled, compromised king; holy war remains relevant until God’s purposes are complete.
- Best use: Teaching on the complexity of faithfulness in hostile settings, the persistence of God’s commands, and the moral tensions in biblical narrative.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these people had inhabited the land extending to Shur and Egypt.)
WEB World English Bible 2000
David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for those were the inhabitants of the land who were of old, on the way to Shur, even to the land of Egypt.
KJV King James Version 1769
And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And David and his men went up, and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for those nations were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and David goeth up and his men, and they push unto the Geshurite, and the Gerizite, and the Amalekite, (for they are inhabitants of the land from of old), as thou comest in to Shur and unto the land of Egypt,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And David and his men went up and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Gerzites, and the Amalekites: for those were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, and as far as the land of Egypt.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And David and his men went up, and pillaged Gessuri, and Gerzi, and the Amalecites: for these were of old the inhabitants of the countries, as men go to Sur, even to the land of Egypt.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y subía David con los suyos, y hacían entradas en los Gesureos, y en los Gerzeos, y en los Amalecitas: porque estos habitaban de largo tiempo la tierra, desde como se va á Shur hasta la tierra de Egipto.
E subia Davi com os seus, e faziam entradas nos gesuritas, e nos gersitas, e nos amalequitas: porque estes habitavam de longo tempo a terra, desde como se vai a Sur até a terra do Egito.
David et ses gens montaient et faisaient des incursions chez les Gueschuriens, les Guirziens et les Amalécites; car ces nations habitaient dès les temps anciens la contrée, du côté de Schur et jusqu’ au pays d’ Égypte.
David aber zog hinauf samt seinen Männern und fiel ins Land der Gessuriter und Girsiter und Amalekiter; denn diese waren von alters her die Einwohner dieses Landes, wo man kommt gen Sur bis an Ägyptenland.
David nu toog op met zijn mannen, en zij overvielen de Gesurieten, en de Girzieten, en de Amalekieten (want deze zijn vanouds geweest de inwoners des lands), dat gij gaat naar Sur, en tot aan Egypteland.
E Davide e la sua gente salivano e facevano delle scorrerie nel paese dei Gheshuriti, dei Ghirziti e degli Amalekiti; poiché queste popolazioni abitavano da tempi antichi il paese, dal lato di Shur fino al paese d’Egitto.
I wypadał Dawid i mężowie jego, a wtargiwali do Giessurytów, i do Gierzytów, i do Amalekitów; bo ci mieszkali w onej ziemi zdawna; którędy chodzą przez Sur aż do ziemi Egipskiej.
И выходил Давид с людьми своими и нападал на Гессурян и Гирзеян и Амаликитян, которые издавна населяли эту страну до Сура и даже до земли Египетской.
大衛 和跟隨他的人 上去，侵奪 基述人、基色人、亞瑪力人之地。 這 幾族 歷來 住在 那地，從 書珥 直到 埃及。
And David and his men went up and made attacks on the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites; for these were the people who were living in the land from Telam on the way to Shur, as far as Egypt.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 27:8
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that David targeted these three groups because they were longstanding enemies of Israel whom God had marked for destruction. The Geshurites (southern tribe, distinct from the Geshur in Bashan) and the Amalekites are named in Joshua 13:2 and Exodus 17:14 as peoples Israel was commanded to dispossess or extinguish. Matthew Henry describes David as “avenging an old quarrel that God had with these nations.” Gill notes that the Geshurites were remnants of the Amorites whom Israel failed to expel, so David had “a just right to invade them.” On the Girzites, the Cambridge Bible observes that they cannot be inhabitants of Gezer (which is too far north) and are likely an otherwise unknown Arab tribe. Keil and Delitzsch suggest the raid may have been provoked by plundering incursions into Israelite territory. The text presents David as continuing the holy war against Israel’s ancient foes, even while living under Philistine protection.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Faithful obedience: David targets peoples God commanded to destroy (Amalekites, Geshurites); his action continues the holy war despite exile.
- Pragmatic survival: David needs resources and cover; the raid provides both, and the mention of ancient enemies may be a justification after the fact.
- Mixed motives: The narrative presents David as both obeying God and deceiving Achish; his character is complex, not simply heroic or sinful.
What is clear: David led a military raid against the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites in a region south toward Egypt, and these groups were considered ancient enemies of Israel.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the Girzites | This is an obscure tribe or clan, not the inhabitants of Gezer, since Gezer is far north of David’s operations. | Some link them to Mount Gerizim; others connect them to the Gerreni of 2 Maccabees. No firm consensus exists. |
| Morality of total destruction | The Amalekites were under God’s ban (herem) because of their attack on Israel at Rephidim (Exodus 17). | Christians differ on whether such commands apply today. Some see them as unique to Israel’s theocratic history; others read them as typological of God’s final judgment. |
| David’s deception of Achish | David falsely reports that he raided Judahite territory (v. 10) to maintain his cover as a Philistine vassal. | Some commentators (e.g., Matthew Henry) defend this as a necessary ruse in wartime; others (e.g., many modern ethicists) see it as a moral failing that stains David’s character. |
Historical & Cultural Context
David had fled to Philistine territory after Saul renewed his pursuit (1 Samuel 27:1, 4). King Achish granted him Ziklag, a town on the southern border of Philistia, where David and his six hundred men lived for sixteen months (v. 7). From Ziklag, David launched raids into the Negev and the wilderness areas to the south and east.
The Geshurites mentioned here are a southern tribe living near the Philistines (Joshua 13:2), not to be confused with the Aramean Geshurites in northeast Gilead. The Girzites (or Gezrites) are obscure; some scholars connect them to Mount Gerizim or to a tribe called Gerreni mentioned in 2 Maccabees, but their identity remains uncertain. The Amalekites were Israel’s sworn enemies since the Exodus (Exodus 17:8, 16); Saul had been commanded to destroy them utterly but failed (1 Samuel 15). Now David attacks the remnants.
The geographical note “on the way to Shur, even to the land of Egypt” locates the raids along the main route from Canaan toward Egypt, the wilderness of Shur (Exodus 15:22). This region was a border zone inhabited by semi-nomadic groups who had often harassed Israel. By striking these peoples, David was both obeying God’s ancient commands and securing resources, the next verse reports that he took livestock and goods (v. 9). At the same time, he deceived Achish by claiming he had raided Israelite territory (v. 10), maintaining his cover as a Philistine vassal. The passage thus shows David in a morally complex position: faithful to God’s purposes yet operating through deception and violence in a hostile environment.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for the names of the tribes. The main difficulty is the grammar of the phrase “for those were the inhabitants of the land who were of old, on the way to Shur.” The Hebrew is obscure, as the Cambridge Bible and Keil & Delitzsch observe. Some scholars emend the text to read “from Telem” instead of “from of old,” based on a possible confusion of letters, but the Masoretic text is clear in the manuscripts. The ancient versions (LXX, Syriac) vary in their rendering, but no strong grounds for emendation exist.
Reception History
This verse has been used in debates about the justice of holy war and the moral character of David. Early church fathers like Augustine saw David as a type of Christ who defeats spiritual enemies. Reformation commentators such as Luther and Calvin focused on David’s faith under pressure, often excusing his deception as a wartime stratagem. In modern times, the passage is frequently cited in discussions of the ethics of military action and the tension between divine command and human conscience. The obscurity of the Girzites has also sparked speculation among archaeologists and historians about the tribal makeup of the Negev in the Iron Age.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s commands do not expire. David attacks peoples God had marked for judgment centuries earlier. His exile does not release him from the obligation to fight God’s battles.
- Faithfulness often costs. David risks exposure and suspicion from Achish by conducting these raids. Obedience to God can put us in danger with earthly authorities.
- God works through mixed motives. David’s raid mixes obedience, pragmatism, and deceit. The narrative does not whitewash him, but God still advances His purposes through flawed servants.
Five-point outline
- David’s position: exiled among Philistines, living under a foreign king (v. 5, 7).
- His target selection: three groups that were ancient enemies of Israel, especially Amalek (Exodus 17).
- His method: total destruction, leaving no survivors (v. 9), consistent with the ban herem.
- His report to Achish: a lie that protects his real loyalty to Israel (v. 10).
- God’s providence: through these raids David gains resources, eliminates foes, and maintains his cover, preparing him for future kingship.
Illustration hooks
- A soldier deployed to a hostile country who still follows orders from his home command, even when it puts him at odds with local authorities.
- An employee in an organization with conflicting values who quietly uses his position to help vulnerable people, without revealing his true loyalties.
- A parent living in a difficult situation who continues to teach their children right from wrong, even when it seems impractical.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Was David wrong to lie to Achish about the target of his raids?
- Does God still command warfare today? How do we apply Old Testament judgment passages?
- How can we serve God faithfully when we feel trapped in a situation that compromises our values?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows David at a low point, serving a Philistine king while still acting as Israel’s anointed. It raises hard questions about loyalty, deception, and the ongoing relevance of God’s ancient commands. As you discuss, remember that the writer does not explicitly approve or condemn David’s actions; he simply records them. Let the text challenge you to consider how you navigate faithfulness in difficult circumstances.
Discussion questions
- What do we learn about David’s situation from verses 5, 7? Why might he feel compelled to take such risks?
- Why does the writer specify these three tribal groups and mention that they were “of old” inhabitants? (Reference Exodus 17:14 and Joshua 13:2.)
- What does David’s choice of targets tell us about his priorities? Is he serving God, himself, or both?
- How does David’s report to Achish in verse 10 create ethical tension? Is there a difference between deception in warfare and lying for personal gain?
- In what ways does God’s command to destroy Amalek still apply here? Does David’s action fulfill that command, or is he using it as a cover?
- How does this passage prepare us for David’s later experience with the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 30 (when they raid Ziklag)?
- What can we learn about living faithfully when we are in a compromised or hostile environment?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 15:22 | Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. |
| Exodus 17:8 | Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. |
| Exodus 17:14 | Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky.” |
| Exodus 17:16 | He said, “Yah has sworn: ‘Yahweh will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’” |
| Joshua 13:2 | “This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites; |
| Joshua 13:13 | Nevertheless the children of Israel didn’t drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath live within Israel to this day. |
| Joshua 16:10 | They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor. |
| Judges 1:29 | Ephraim didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes distinguishes two separate groups bearing the name Geshurites: one living near the Philistines in a mountainous district, and another in northeast Bashan who were Arameans. He also notes that the Gezrites or Gerzites may be linked to Mount Gerizim.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary clarifies the identities of the tribes David raided, distinguishing southern Geshurites from Syrian ones and ruling out Gezer as the home of the Gezrites. It also notes the Hebrew text is obscure where it speaks of those nations being of old, suggesting a possible emendation referring to their territory.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight that these people groups were the original inhabitants of the land, described as dwelling there "from the beginning." This detail underscores that David's raid was against ancient, longstanding enemies of Israel, not recent settlers or incidental foes.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that David's raids were not mere plundering but a rightful claim. These groups were old Canaanite inhabitants whom Israel had been commanded to drive out but had never fully expelled. David acted as Israel's king, enforcing the original divine judgment against these persistent enemies of God's people.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB identifies the Gezrites as a specific Arab horde once encamped at Geriz, based on Gesenius, and notes that the Amalekites' territory lay partly south of Israel. This clarifies which peoples David invaded as distinct from the Geshurites.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues that David's attack on these desert tribes must have been provoked by their own plundering raids into Israel. He notes David would not have taken such a risky military action without cause, since it could easily have made Achish suspicious and endangered his position at Ziklag.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange treats David's flight to Philistia as a self-willed lapse of faith, since David chose his own plan instead of seeking God's guidance as he had done before. This one act of unbelief, the commentator argues, then forced David into deception, lying, and even bloodshed to keep up his cover with Achish.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry defends David's attack by arguing it was neither cruel nor unjust. Those nations were doomed by heaven, and David as God's anointed was the proper instrument to carry out that judgment, not acting from personal ambition but fulfilling a divine commission.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the Amalekites who raided Ziklag as the survivors of the group Saul had previously destroyed. They were not a fresh enemy but a remnant that had escaped into remote desert places and regrouped.