1 Samuel 27:1-7 ▼

1 And David said in his heart, “Now I will be swept away one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing for me better than that I diligently escape to the land of the Philistines. And Saul will despair of me to seek me anymore in all the border of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”

2 And David arose and passed over—he and the six hundred men who were with him—to Achish son of Maoch king of Gath.

3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man and his household, and David and his two wives—Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelitess.

4 And it was declared to Saul that David had fled to Gath. And he sought him no more.

5 And David said to Achish, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them give to me a place in one of the cities of the field, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?”

6 And Achish gave to him that day Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.

7 And the number of the days that David dwelt in the field of the Philistines was a year and four months.