1 Samuel 27

1But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in the territory of Israel, and I will escape from his hand.”

2So David set out and went over, he and the six hundred men with him, to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3David settled with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each with his household. David had his two wives with him, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow.

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

5Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the country towns so that I can live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

6So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. That is why Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.

7David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months.

8David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Gizrites, and the Amalekites. These peoples had lived in the land from ancient times, from the approach to Shur as far as the land of Egypt.

9Whenever David attacked the land, he left no man or woman alive, but he took the sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he would come back to Achish.

10When Achish asked, “Where did you raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah,” or “Against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites,” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.”

11David left no man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might report on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was his practice the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.

12Achish trusted David and thought, “He has made himself truly hated by his people Israel, so he will be my servant forever.”