[1] David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of
Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the
land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more
in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. [2] David
arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to
Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. [3] David lived with Achish at Gath,
he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two
wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal`s wife.
[4] It was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more
again for him. [5] David said to Achish, If now I have found favor in your
eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I
may dwell there: for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with
you? [6] Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: why Ziklag pertains to the
kings of Judah to this day. [7] The number of the days that David lived in
the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. [8] David
and his men went up, and made a raid on the Geshurites, and the Girzites,
and the Amalekites; for those [nations] were the inhabitants of the land,
who were of old, as you go to Shur, even to the land of Egypt. [9] David
struck the land, and saved neither man nor woman alive, and took away the
sheep, and the oxen, and the donkeys, and the camels, and the clothing; and
he returned, and came to Achish. [10] Achish said, Against whom have you
made a raid today? David said, Against the South of Judah, and against the
South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites. [11]
David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying,
Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David, and so has been his
manner all the while he has lived in the country of the Philistines. [12]
Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly to
abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant forever.
