Chapter 27

1David said to himself, “Some day I shall certainly perish at the hands of Saul. The best thing for me is to flee to the land of the Philistines; Saul will then give up hunting me throughout the territory of Israel, and I will escape him.” 2So David and the six hundred men with him went and crossed over to King Achish son of Maoch of Gath^✦. 3David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath, each man with his family, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 4And when Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he did not pursue him anymore.

5David said to Achish, “If you please, let a place be granted me in one of the country towns where I can live; why should your servant remain with you in the royal city?” 6At that time Achish granted him Ziklag^✦; that is how Ziklag came to belong to the kings of Judah, as is still the case.

7The length of time that David lived in Philistine territory was a year and four months. 8David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Gizrites, and the Amalekites—who were the inhabitants of the region of Olam,a all the way to Shur and to the land of Egypt.— 9When David attacked a region, he would leave no man or woman alive; he would take flocks, herds, asses, camels, and clothing. When he returned and cameb to Achish, 10Achish would ask, “Wherec did you raid today?” and David would reply, “The Negebd of Judah,” or “the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or “the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11David would leave no man or woman alive to be brought to Gath; for he thought, “They might tell about us: David did this.” Such was his practice as long as he stayed in the territory of the Philistines. 12Achish trusted David. He thought: e“He has aroused the wrath of his own people Israel, and so he will be my vassal forever.”