1 Samuel 27:1-9 ▼

1 And David says to his heart, “Now I am consumed by the hand of Saul one day; there is nothing better for me than that I diligently escape to the land of the Philistines, and Saul has been despairing of me—of seeking me anymore in all the border of Israel, and I have escaped out of his hand.”

2 And David rises, and passes over, he and six hundred men who [are] with him, to Achish son of Maoch king of Gath;

3 and David dwells with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, [even] David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelitess.

4 And it is declared to Saul that David has fled to Gath, and he has not added to seek him anymore.

5 And David says to Achish, “Now if I have found grace in your eyes, they give a place to me in one of the cities of the field, and I dwell there, indeed, why does your servant dwell in the royal city with you?”

6 And Achish gives Ziklag to him in that day, therefore Ziklag has been for the kings of Judah until this day.

7 And the number of the days which David has dwelt in the field of the Philistines [is one year] of days and four months;

8 and David and his men go up, and they push toward the Geshurite, and the Gerizite, and the Amalekite (for they are inhabitants of the land from of old), as you come to Shur and to the land of Egypt,

9 and David has struck the land, and does not keep alive man and woman, and has taken sheep, and oxen, and donkeys, and camels, and garments, and turns back, and comes to Achish.