1. 1 Samuel 21:11 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why did Achish’s servants refer to David as the king of the land?

1 Samuel 21:11 (ESV)

11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

Arriving in Gath, it appeared as if David was immediately recognized.1 On account of David’s various exploits, the men of Philistia had recognized him as a prominent leader/chieftain.2 Though they did not officially recognize him as king of Israel, they did recognize that he was someone that has all the marks of a king and is on his way to being one.3 They confronted him with his destiny.4 This acknowledgement of David as a king is ironic and underlies the fact that the divine plan was inviolably bound up with David.5