1 Samuel 27:1-9 ▼

1 David said to himself: “I shall perish some day at the hand of Saul. I have no choice but to escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will give up his continual search for me throughout the land of Israel, and I will be out of his reach.”

2 Accordingly, David departed with his six hundred soldiers and went over to Achish, son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 David and his men lived in Gath with Achish; each one had his family, and David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.

4 When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

5 David said to Achish: “If I meet with your approval, let me have a place to live in one of the country towns. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?”

6 That same day Achish gave him Ziklag, which has, therefore, belonged to the kings of Judah up to the present time.

7 In all, David lived a year and four months in Philistine territory.

8 David and his men went out on raids against the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites—peoples living in the land between Telam, on the approach to Shur, and the land of Egypt.

9 In attacking the land David would not leave a man or woman alive, but would carry off sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, and clothes. Then he would return to Achish,