Achish, Part Deux

1 Samuel 27:1-2, 9-12 - But David thought to himself, "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand."

So David and the 600 men with him left and went to Achish son of Maoch king of Gath.

Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.

When Achish asked, "Where did you go raiding today?" David would say, "Against the Negev of Judah" or "Against the Negev of Jerahmeel" or "Against the Negev of the Kenites." He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, "They might inform on us and say, 'This is what David did.' " And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. Achish trusted David and said to himself, "He will become so odious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant forever."

I wonder if Achish ever asked David about his previous visit when he feigned madness. Didn't he wonder why David was so different now? It's true that he had a small army with him this time, but I don't think that would have altered Achish's curiosity.

I wonder what exactly David feared that a captive might tell Achish. Did David sometimes go on raids that the king wouldn't have approved of? Did David attack Achish's friends or allies once in a while? Even if no immediate survivors were left, I wonder that someone else didn't find out what David was really doing and spread the word until Achish finally heard too. If David was always doing what he said he was, then why was he afraid of a tattle-tale? What would such a person have to gain by lying about David, one of Achish's most trusted warlords?