And David said in his heart: ‘I shall now be swept away one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel; so shall I escape out of his hand.’
verse value 5528
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 107 letters. The shortest word is "and·than" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "by·hand·of·Saul" (בְּיַד־שָׁא֑וּל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 80: I·will·slip·away, again. 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "to·his·heart" (אֶל־לִבּ֔וֹ), "I·shall·be·swept·away" (אֶסָּפֶ֥ה), "one·day" (יוֹם־אֶחָ֖ד). The root מלט appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "to·his·heart" (root איל, 238x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'by·hand·of·Saul', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 16 words.
Rashi
Now I shall be swept away one day. Perhaps he will lie in wait and come upon me suddenly.
Radak
Asseh. A term denoting destruction:
And he shall despair. A term denoting despair:
Metzudat David
"Now I shall be swept away." For after he had cut off the corner of the robe, he thought that Saul would no longer continue to pursue him as he had at first. But after seeing that Saul was still pursuing him despite this, he feared further that, because Saul saw the success of his fortune, he might yet devise a way to come upon him suddenly, and he would be swept away in a single day — that is to say, without warning before his coming.
To seek me further. Just as he sought me thus far throughout all the borders of Israel:
Metzudat Zion
I am consumed. A matter of destruction.
And I will despair. From the word 'despair,' similarly (Isaiah 57:10): 'you did not say, I have despaired'.
Malbim
Now I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul, for a miracle does not occur every day, and furthermore, they deduct from the merits of one for whom a miracle is wrought, and he thought that perhaps his merits had already been exhausted by the two previous deliverances. And this is what is written: “I have no good, except that I flee and escape to the land of the Philistines,” and by this I shall be delivered, for three reasons: 1. While I am in the land, Saul thinks that I am gathering people to myself in order to rebel against him; not so if I am in the land of the Philistines, and this is what is written: “Saul will despair of me.” 2. After he knows that he will not find me, he will become discouraged from seeking me, and this is what is written: “Saul despaired of seeking David any more in all the border of Israel.” 3. Even if it comes to his mind to go after me to the land of the Philistines, I will escape from his hand, for the king of the Philistines will save me.
And David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
verse value 3494
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 48 letters. The shortest word is "winepress" (גַּֽת, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·six·hundred" (וְשֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "son·of·Maoch" (בֶּן־מָע֖וֹךְ). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 229x in I Samuel); "man" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיָּ֣קׇם [and·arose] (156) + דָּוִ֔ד [David] (14) + וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר [and·crossed·over] (288) + ה֔וּא [he] (12) + וְשֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת [and·six·hundred] (1053) + אִ֖ישׁ [man] (311) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + עִמּ֑וֹ [with] (116) + אֶל־אָכִ֥ישׁ [to·Achish] (362) + בֶּן־מָע֖וֹךְ [son·of·Maoch] (188) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + גַּֽת [winepress] (403) = 3494.
Radak
“Unto Achish, son of Maoc, king of Gath.” One should ask: How did he go to him, whereas previously he had already been in danger with him, to the extent that he feigned madness and escaped thence? And it should be explained that on that occasion, David was alone and had concealed his identity there; and when he saw that they recognized him, he was afraid. But now, he came with six hundred men. And before he entered Gath, he sent word to Achish that he had become estranged from Saul and his people, and that if Achish wished, he and his men would dwell with him and assist him in fighting against Israel. And he revealed himself, saying, “I am David.” And Achish received him peacefully, and he dwelt with him.
Metzudat David
“To Achish.” Although initially he feared him, acted foolishly in their presence, and fled, yet when he came with six hundred men, and it was also known that he had become an abomination to Saul, Achish made peace with him, to dwell with him and to be subject to his authority.
Malbim
And David arose and passed over. Although when he first fled to Achish, he was in danger (as stated above, 21), then he came alone and they suspected that he came as a spy, and moreover, no benefit was hoped for from a single man. Not so now, that he came with six hundred men who were not suspected of being spies, and there was hope that they would be among his men of valour for the day of battle and war. And this is what is written: "And he crossed over, he and the six hundred men with him."
And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.
verse value 5846
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 78 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֨ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·Jezreelitess" (הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔ת, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 14: David, David. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "in·Gath" (בְּגַ֛ת), "and·his·household" (וּבֵית֑וֹ), "the·Jezreelitess" (הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔ת). The root דוד appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "and·his·men" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "he" (root הוא, 82x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·his·household', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Malbim
[9. With B.] Initially, he came without his household, and he feared that he might flee from him. Not so now, when a man and his household came, as it is written: “And he dwelt… a man and his household.”
And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath; and he sought no more again for him.
verse value 1908
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 37 letters. Verse gematria: 1908 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "winepress" (גַּ֑ת, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·did·not·again" (וְלֹא־יָסַ֥ף, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "to·seek·him" (לְבַקְשֽׁוֹ). The root יסף appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "to·Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "and·it·was·told" (root נגד, 53x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'winepress', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיֻּגַּ֣ד [and·it·was·told] (23) + לְשָׁא֔וּל [to·Saul] (367) + כִּֽי־בָרַ֥ח [that·fled] (240) + דָּוִ֖ד [David] (14) + גַּ֑ת [winepress] (403) + וְלֹא־יָסַ֥ף [and·did·not·again] (187) + (יוסף) [to·add] (156) + ע֖וֹד [again] (80) + לְבַקְשֽׁוֹ [to·seek·him] (438) = 1908.
And David said to Achish: ‘If now I have found favour in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there; for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?’
verse value 4878
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 83 letters. Verse gematria: 4878 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "favour" (חֵ֤ן, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Achish" (אֶל־אָכִ֗ישׁ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 314: field, and·let·me·dwell. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "if·please" (אִם־נָא֩), "I·have·found" (מָצָ֨אתִי), "let·them·give·me" (יִתְּנוּ־לִ֣י). The root עיר appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "with" (root עם, 128x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'there', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Rashi
And why should your servant dwell, etc. And I will be to you a burden.
Radak
"And why did your servant sit?" Explanation: Lest I become a burden upon you. And David's intention was that they should not notice him when he raided the places, and that he and his men should have a city for themselves alone.
Ralbag
"In one of the cities of the countryside." This means in one of the cities that are not surrounded by a wall.
Metzudat David
“Cities of the field.” Without a wall surrounding them, for he [David] thought lest Akish would not believe him and grant him a fortified city, lest he become strong through the strength of the city and rebel against him.
"In the royal city with you. For I will be a burden to you, for provisions will become dear because of my men:"
Malbim
"If, please," meaning: Why did he insist on sitting specifically in the royal city? Was it because he feared him, lest he rebel against him, and in the royal city there is the king's army? Regarding this, he said, "If I have found favor," meaning: Do not suspect me. Or was it because he feared that the Philistines would harm him while he was with them, outside the royal city? Regarding this, he requested, "Give me a place," meaning: A specific place, separated from the Philistines. Or was it because he feared giving him a fortified city with gates and bars, lest he become strong there? Regarding this, he said, "In the cities of the field," meaning: An open town.
Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day; wherefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.
verse value 2587
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 54 letters. Verse gematria: 2587 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "until" (עַ֖ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·he·gave·him" (וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 17: that, this. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "of·the·kings·of" (לְמַלְכֵ֣י). The root יום appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "was" (root היה, 167x in I Samuel); "in·the·day" (root יום, 154x in I Samuel); "of·the·kings·of" (root מלך, 102x in I Samuel). First appearance of the root צקלג ("Ziklag") in I Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ziklag', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ [and·he·gave·him] (502) + אָכִ֛ישׁ [Achish] (331) + בַּיּ֥וֹם [in·the·day] (58) + הַה֖וּא [that] (17) + אֶת־צִֽקְלָ֑ג [Ziklag] (624) + לָכֵ֞ן [therefore] (100) + הָיְתָ֤ה [was] (420) + צִֽקְלַג֙ [Ziklag] (223) + לְמַלְכֵ֣י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + עַ֖ד [until] (74) + הַיּ֥וֹם [day] (61) + הַזֶּֽה [this] (17) = 2587.
Radak
To the kings of Judah. Even though we see that at the time of the conquest of the land, Ziklag belonged to the tribe of Judah, it is possible that it was named after its final status, or it is possible that they conquered it then, and afterward the Philistines took it from them. And from the day that David dwelt in it, it remained his; therefore, it belonged to the kings of Judah from that day onward. Hence, it says "to the kings of Judah" and does not say "to Judah."
Metzudat David
“And he gave him, etc., Ziklag.” Even though in the Book of Joshua (15:31) it is stated that it was part of the inheritance of Judah, perhaps after that the Philistines took it from their hands.
To the kings of Judah. For Achish gave it to David, and he did not return it to all the members of the tribe.
And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
verse value 3260
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·he·dwelt" (אֲשֶׁר־יָשַׁ֥ב, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "that·he·dwelt" (אֲשֶׁר־יָשַׁ֥ב), "and·four" (וְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה). The root יום appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "that·he·dwelt" (root אשר, 229x in I Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 167x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Philistines', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·was] (31) + מִסְפַּ֣ר [number] (380) + הַיָּמִ֔ים [day] (105) + אֲשֶׁר־יָשַׁ֥ב [that·he·dwelt] (813) + דָּוִ֖ד [David] (14) + בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה [in·field·of] (311) + פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים [Philistines] (860) + יָמִ֖ים [days] (100) + וְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה [and·four] (284) + חֳדָשִֽׁים [months] (362) = 3260.
Rashi
Days and four months. The minimum of days is two. And it is not possible to explain 'days' as a year — for David did not go to Achish until Samuel died. And Sha'ul did not reign after Samuel's death except four months — as we learned in Seder Olam. And also from the numbering of the years of Eli, and the twenty years that the Ark was in Kiryat-Yearim — behold, sixty years. Subtract from them fifty-two of Samuel, and one year for his conception with these four months, and seven years that David reigned in Hebron before he brought the Ark from Kiryat-Yearim — it turns out that Sha'ul did not reign after Samuel's death more than four months.
Radak
“Days and four months.” It cannot be interpreted that “days” here means a year, for Saul did not reign for more than two years, and all the events that occurred between David and Saul could not possibly have taken place within eight months. Furthermore, David did not go down into the field of the Philistines until after the death of Samuel, and the death of Samuel preceded the death of Saul by only seven months. Therefore, we interpret “days” in its plain sense, meaning four months and a few days from the fifth month. And so did Jonathan’s Targum translate it: “Days and four months.” In some manuscripts, it reads “a season, a season, and four months,” meaning a year and four months.
Metzudat Zion
Days. A year.
Malbim
“Days” means to say that he dwelt in Gath for a certain number of days, and in Ziklag for four months; and therefore it placed “days” before “months.”
And David and his men went up, and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Gizrites, and the Amalekites; for those were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old, as you go to Shur, even to the land of Egypt.
verse value 5274
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 87 letters. Verse gematria: 5274 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·the·Geshurites" (אֶל־הַגְּשׁוּרִ֥י, 8 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "upon·the·Geshurites" (אֶל־הַגְּשׁוּרִ֥י), "and·the·Gizrites" (וְהַגִּזְרִ֖י), "and·the·Amalekites" (וְהָעֲמָלֵקִ֑י). The root ארץ appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "upon·the·Geshurites" (root איל, 238x in I Samuel); "who" (root אשר, 229x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·the·Amalekites', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 10 words.
Rashi
And David went up. The language of the present — he was always accustomed to do so.
Your coming toward Shur. (Targum:) from the approach of Hagra.
Radak
"For behold, they were the inhabitants of the land from of old." Explanation: Those families mentioned were dwelling securely in that land from of old, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. Therefore, they were not on guard, for they had no warfare with anyone. And David came upon them, struck the land, and plundered great plunder. It was not known who had done this evil to them, for no man or woman survived.
Metzudat David
For behold, etc. He means to say: Since they had always been inhabitants of that land, and no war had come upon them to drive them out from it, they were not on guard, and David did with them as he pleased.
Metzudat Zion
And they scattered. They dispersed as warriors do.
Your coming toward Shur. Until you come to Shur, and it is as if speaking to one who knows the place.
Malbim
The questions: If they were inhabitants of the land, how did he smite them, repaying evil for good? And how did he not fear that it would become known to Achish?
"For those were the inhabitants of the land" — this refers to the time when he [David] campaigned against these nations, because they were dwelling in the land, and consequently they had strife with the Philistines, as neighbors do, and the Philistines would not take offense at his fighting against them. [Alternatively:] "For those were the inhabitants of the land" — this refers to the fact that the land has always been inhabited, since the days of Joshua, and they are from the seven nations regarding whom the commandment "you shall let none of them live" was upheld; concerning this it says, "as thou goest to Shur," etc., as mentioned in the Book of Joshua.
And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel. And he returned, and came to Achish.
verse value 3230
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 70 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·struck" (וְהִכָּ֤ה) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "David" (דָוִד֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·land" (אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "he·repaired" (יְחַיֶּ֖ה), "and·camels" (וּגְמַלִּים֙), "and·garments" (וּבְגָדִ֔ים). 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "man" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "and·came" (root בוא, 161x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·wife', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 9 words. 10 of the verse's 16 words begin with the letter ו.
Malbim
"And saved none alive" — that is to say, he did not keep any of the captives alive for menservants and maidservants, as it says afterward, but only "and took the sheep and the oxen," etc.
"And he returned." The meaning is that whenever he returned he would come to Achish to tell him.
And Achish said: ‘Whither have you made a raid to-day?’ And David said: ‘Against the South of Judah, and against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.’
verse value 2697
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֗ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·Jerahmeelites" (הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִ֔י, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·said, and·said. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "where?·you·raided" (אַל־פְּשַׁטְתֶּ֖ם), "against·the·South" (עַל־נֶ֤גֶב), "and·to·south·of" (וְאֶל־נֶ֖גֶב). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "where?·you·raided" (root איל, 238x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'day', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + אָכִ֔ישׁ [Achish] (331) + אַל־פְּשַׁטְתֶּ֖ם [where?·you·raided] (860) + הַיּ֑וֹם [day] (61) + וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + דָּוִ֗ד [David] (14) + עַל־נֶ֤גֶב [against·the·South] (155) + יְהוּדָה֙ [Judah] (30) + וְעַל־נֶ֣גֶב [and·against·the·South] (161) + הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִ֔י [the·Jerahmeelites] (304) + וְאֶל־נֶ֖גֶב [and·to·south·of] (92) + הַקֵּינִֽי [the·Kenites] (175) = 2697.
Rashi
Whither have you raided. The lamed is exchanged for a nun — like 'vayaas lo nishkah' in the book of Ezra (Nehemiah 13:7) — like 'lishkah.'
Radak
"Whither have ye made a raid to-day?" It is like "an" (whither). Its meaning: that troops spread out and run through the land to take spoil and to seize prey — like lishkah and nishkah [where the letters interchange]. And so Jonathan rendered it: whither have ye spread out this day? And the sage Rabbi Jonah explained it by the interchange of ayin for aleph, and "whom" is implied with it — that is to say, upon whom have ye made a raid? And the sage our master Abraham ibn Ezra explained it according to its plain sense, and it is by way of question: have ye not made a raid to-day? And they answered thus: we have raided against such and such a place.
“Concerning the Negev of Judah.” At times they would say “the Negev of Judah,” at times “the Negev of the Jerahmeelites,” and at times “the Negev of the Kenites.” The Jerahmeelites are a clan from the tribe of Judah, namely the family of Jerahmeel, son of Chetzron. David also mentions them when he distributed the spoils to them: “and to those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those in the cities of the Kenites.” It appears that the cities of these clans were situated close to one another. The Kenites are the family of Jethro, who converted and settled among the children of Judah, as it is written in the Book of Judges. And the meaning of “south” is as its Targum renders it.
Ralbag
“Upon whom have you spread [your wrath]?” This is like “upon,” and the intention is “upon whom have you spread [your wrath],” and this is clear from David’s answer to Him.
Metzudat David
"And Achish said." And when Achish would say to him: "Have you not gone out today and done nothing in battle?"
"And David said." And David would reply: "Indeed, we have also today spread out [our forces]; at one time he said to him it was the Negev of Judah, and at another time the Negev of the Jerahmeelite, etc., so that Achish might think that David had made himself odious to his own people."
Metzudat Zion
Not. Its meaning is not.
You scattered. You dispersed, to fight and plunder spoils.
The Negev of Judah. In the south of Judah.
The Jerahmeelite. The name of a family from the children of Judah.
The Kenite. From the children of Hobab, Moses' father-in-law, who joined Israel and dwelt in the inheritance of Judah.
Malbim
And Achish said. He asked it in astonishment: “Did you not raid today? Surely you must have raided!” And David answered as one speaking casually, “In the Negev of Judah,” etc., so that Achish would think that David had become stinking in the eyes of Israel.
And David left neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying: ‘Lest they should tell on us, saying: So did David, and so has been his manner all the while he has dwelt in the country of the Philistines.’
verse value 5038
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 82 letters. The shortest word is "Gath" (גַת֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·days" (כׇּ֨ל־הַיָּמִ֔ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 312: and·wife, dwelt. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "not·He·preserves" (לֹא־יְחַיֶּ֣ה), "to·bring" (לְהָבִ֥יא), "lest·they·tell" (פֶּן־יַגִּ֥דוּ). The root דוד appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 229x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 9 words.
Metzudat David
And a man, etc. From the men of Geshur, etc.:
"To say." For he said: "Lest they tell, saying that they are plundering them," meaning that the plundering is directed against them, and not against the people of his own nation.
Metzudat Zion
His custom. His habit, similarly (above 2:13): 'and the custom of the priests'.
Malbim
And one might say that this was the reason why he did not bring a man and a woman from the captives, lest they reveal and say, "Thus did David act," and thereby...
And Achish believed David, saying: ‘He has made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.’
verse value 2330
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 50 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·shall·be" (וְהָ֥יָה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·me" (לִ֖י, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·Israel" (בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, 6 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "and·believed" (וַיַּאֲמֵ֥ן), "utterly" (הַבְאֵ֤שׁ), "turned·foul" (הִבְאִישׁ֙). The root באש appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "in·David" (root דוד, 262x in I Samuel); "and·it·shall·be" (root היה, 167x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַיַּאֲמֵ֥ן [and·believed] (107) + אָכִ֖ישׁ [Achish] (331) + בְּדָוִ֣ד [in·David] (16) + לֵאמֹ֑ר [saying] (271) + הַבְאֵ֤שׁ [utterly] (308) + הִבְאִישׁ֙ [turned·foul] (318) + בְּעַמּ֣וֹ [among·his·people] (118) + בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [in·Israel] (543) + וְהָ֥יָה [and·it·shall·be] (26) + לִ֖י [to·me] (40) + לְעֶ֥בֶד [for·a·servant] (106) + עוֹלָֽם [ever] (146) = 2330.
Radak
"He hath made himself abhorred among his people." Since he raids against them continually, it appears that he has provoked his own people, so that he will never be reconciled with them; and he has rejected them, as a man rejects a thing that has become foul.
Metzudat David
And he believed. He reasoned that the truth was with David, who had made himself odious among his own people.
Metzudat Zion
He became abhorrent. He means he loathed them as a spoiled thing, similarly (above 13:4): 'Israel became abhorrent in the Philistines'.
Malbim
And Achish believed in David, because he said, "He has become stinking in the eyes of his people, in Israel." He means to say that it might appear that he would fight against Israel, and his people, who are his tribe, would support him; and it might appear that he would fight against his tribe in order to find favor in the eyes of Israel, lest they say that he leans toward his tribe. But after he fought against Judah and the Kenites, who are from Israel, he became stinking in the eyes of all of them, and consequently, he became a servant to me forever.
Rashi
Radak
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim