4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Make the man go back , that he may return to his place where e you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, or in the battle he may become an adversary to us. For with what could this man make himself acceptable to his lord ? Would it not be with the heads of these men ?

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 29:4

Commentary on 1 Samuel 29:1-5

(Read 1 Samuel 29:1-5)

David waited with a secret hope that the Lord would help him out of his difficulty. But he seems to have been influenced too much by the fear of man, in consenting to attend Achish. It is hard to come near to the brink of sin, and not to fall in. God inclined the princes of the Philistines to oppose David's being employed in the battle. Thus their dislike befriended him, when no friend could do him such a kindness.