1Sa 29:3 | KD | STEP | When the princes of the Philistines ( sarne , as in ) advanced by hundreds and thousands (i.e., arranged in companies of hundreds and thousands), and David and his men came behind with Achish (i.e., forming the rear-guard), the (other) princes pronounced against their allowing David and his men to go with them. The did not occur at the time of their setting out, but on the road, when they had already gone some distance (compare with ), probably when the five princes ( ) of the Philistines had effected a junction. To the inquiry, “ What are these Hebrews doing? ” Achish replied, “ Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me days already, or years already? and I have found nothing in him since his coming over unto this day .” מאוּמה, anything at all that could render his suspicious, or his fidelity doubtful. נפל, to fall away and go over to a person; generally construed with אל ( ; , etc.) or על ( ; ; ), but here absolutely, as the more precise meaning can be gathered from the context.

‏ 1 Samuel 29:3

When the princes of the Philistines (sarne, as in Jos 13:3) advanced by hundreds and thousands (i.e., arranged in companies of hundreds and thousands), and David and his men came behind with Achish (i.e., forming the rear-guard), the (other) princes pronounced against their allowing David and his men to go with them. The did not occur at the time of their setting out, but on the road, when they had already gone some distance (compare 1Sa 29:11 with 1Sa 30:1), probably when the five princes (Jos 13:3) of the Philistines had effected a junction. To the inquiry, “What are these Hebrews doing?” Achish replied, “Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me days already, or years already? and I have found nothing in him since his coming over unto this day.” מאוּמה, anything at all that could render his suspicious, or his fidelity doubtful. נפל, to fall away and go over to a person; generally construed with אל (Jer 37:13; Jer 38:19, etc.) or על (Jer 21:9; Jer 37:14; 1Ch 12:19-20), but here absolutely, as the more precise meaning can be gathered from the context.