1 Samuel 27:12

12 And Achish believed David, saying, "He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him. Therefore he shall be my servant for ever."

1 Samuel 27:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 27:12

And Achish believed David
As he would have him understand his story; imposing upon him by ambiguous terms, insinuating he had been against the southern parts of Judah, when he had been against foreign nations that lay to the south of Judah:

saying, he hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him;
they shall never forgive him the destruction of their cities, and the inhabitants of them, and the plunder of their goods and cattle; his name will be had in the utmost detestation and abhorrence, and he must never return thither any more:

therefore he shall be my servant for ever:
would be glad to continue with him as a servant, and be obliged to serve him faithfully and truly, since his own people, and even those of his own tribe, would never more receive him; it being, as he understood it, the south of Judah that he had been plundering.

1 Samuel 27:12 In-Context

10 And Achish said, "Whither have ye made a raid today?" And David said, "Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites."

11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring tidings to Gath, saying, "Lest they should tell on us, saying, `So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.'"

12 And Achish believed David, saying, "He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him. Therefore he shall be my servant for ever."