Thematic Bible
1 Samuel 27:1 (show verse)
David thought to himself: One of these days Saul will kill me. The best thing for me to do is escape to Philistia. Saul will give up looking for me in Israel. Then I will be safe.
1 Samuel 27:2 (show verse)
David and his six hundred men went over at once to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:3 (show verse)
David and his men and their families lived with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.
1 Samuel 27:4 (show verse)
Word soon reached Saul that David fled to Gath. So he stopped hunting for him.
1 Samuel 27:5 (show verse)
David said to Achish: If it is all right with you, let me live in one of the outlying towns. Why should I live in the royal city with you?
1 Samuel 27:6 (show verse)
Achish immediately gave him Ziklag. This is why Ziklag still belongs to the kings of Judah today.
1 Samuel 27:7 (show verse)
David lived in Philistine territory for one year and four months.
1 Samuel 27:8 (show verse)
David and his men raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. Their territory extends from Telaim to Shur and Egypt.
1 Samuel 27:9 (show verse)
David attacked the territory and left no man or woman alive. He also took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and returned to Achish.
1 Samuel 27:10 (show verse)
Achish would ask: Whom did you raid today? David would answer: The south country (Negev) in Judah, or the south country of the Jerahmeelites, or the south country of the Kenites.
1 Samuel 27:11 (show verse)
He did not bring a single man or woman back to Gath alive. He thought, they could tell Achish what I really did. This was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.
1 Samuel 27:12 (show verse)
Achish trusted David and thought: David's people must be furious with him. From now on he will have to take orders from me.