Why do the commanders of the Philistines refer to David and his men as ‘these Hebrews’?
1 Samuel 29:3 (ESV)
3the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.”
The Israelites were often referred to as Hebrews by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:6, 1 Samuel 13:3, 1 Samuel 14:11).1
3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.”