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 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?I label this conversation divine inspiration.
David was in something of a quandary. The Philistines, with whom he has been hiding, are going to war against his people, the nation he will someday rule. He has to go to war with them, for he's promised just that to the king. So, how does he get around this promise, without breaking it, so that he doesn't have to risk fighting his people (and future subjects)?
God provides the answer in the suspicions of the enemy. They put two and two together, and realize that having someone from their sworn enemy fighting alongside the king is a security risk. They lay it out very simply: wouldn't the best way for David to make peace with his people to be to turn on the king, and deliver him to them (alive or dead)? No sense taking such a risk, so send him home.
The thing is, I wonder if David really did intend this...
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