1 Samuel 27
1 David thought to himself, “One of these days I’ll perish at Saul’s hand. There’s nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me throughout the territory of Israel, and I’ll escape from his hand.”
2 David set out and crossed over to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath, with the six hundred men who were with him.
3 David lived with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each with his family. David was with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the Carmelite, Nabal’s wife.
4 Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he no longer searched for him.
5 David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let me be given a place in one of the country towns, so I can live there. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?”
6 That day Achish gave him Ziklag. That is why Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.
7 The time David lived in the land of the Philistines was one year and four months.
8 David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. These had been the inhabitants of the land from ancient times, in the direction of Shur and as far as the land of Egypt.
9 David raided the land and left no man or woman alive. He took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, then returned and went to Achish.
10 Achish would ask, “Where did you raid today?” David would answer, “The Negeb of Judah, the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites, and the Negeb of the Kenites.”
11 David left no man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, thinking, “So they won’t tell on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was his practice throughout all the days he lived in the land of the Philistines.
12 Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has certainly become detestable to his people, Israel; he will be my servant forever.”
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