1 Samuel 28:2
ESV
David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."
NIV
David said, "Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do." Achish replied, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."
NASB
David said to Achish, 'Very well, you will learn what your servant can do.' So Achish said to David, 'Then I will assuredly make you my bodyguard for life!'
CSB
David replied to Achish, "Good, you will find out what your servant can do." So Achish said to David, "Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard."
NLT
Very well!' David agreed. 'Now you will see for yourself what we can do.' Then Achish told David, 'I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.'
KJV
And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
NKJV
So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”
What does 1 Samuel 28:2 mean?
For sixteen months, David, his men, and their families have lived under the protection of Achish, king of Gath. They live in their own city and battle against Israel's enemies. When questioned by Achish, they tell him they're fighting other Israelites (1 Samuel 27).Now, Achish has come to collect. He calls on David to join him in battle with the other Philistine armies against Saul and the Israelites (1 Samuel 28:1). We're not told how David feels about this, but he gives an ambiguous answer. He merely says that Achish will "know what your servant can do." It's possible that David intended to turn on Achish or find some other way to avoid fighting his own people. One way or another, Achish believes David's word. He also believes the Israelites hate David and that David has no other option. David will serve Achish as his bodyguard for life, essentially becoming a servant. The Philistine king believes he's tamed the Goliath-killer.
Unfortunately for Achish, the other Philistine commanders aren't so trusting. They insist that a warrior who has killed "ten thousand" of their people (1 Samuel 18:6–7) will betray them all. Achish has no choice but to send David and his men away (1 Samuel 29).
God's sovereignty protects David on several levels. He won't be present for the battle that brings the deaths of Saul and his sons. And when they return home, David and his men will find the Amalekites have burned their cities and taken their wives and children. Yet they will catch up and easily rescue their families (1 Samuel 30—31).
