27David said to himself, "One of these days I'll perish by Saul's hand. There is nothing better for me to do than to escape to Philistine territory. Saul will give up searching for me any more within the borders of Israel, so I'll escape from him."H1732H559H3820H5595H259H3117H3027H7586H2896H3588H4422H4422H776H6430H7586H2976H1245H1366H3478H4422H30272So David got up, and he and the 600 men who were with him went to Maon's son Achish, the king of Gath.H1732H6965H5674H8337H3967H376H397H1121H4582H4428H16613David stayed with Achish in Gath along with his men, each of whom was with his household. David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel.H1732H3427H397H1661H582H376H1004H1732H8147H802H293H3159H26H3762H5037H8024Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he did not continue to search for him.H5046H7586H1732H1272H1661H1245H3254H3254
Achish Gives Ziklag to David
5David said to Achish, "If it pleases you, give me a place in one of the outlying towns, so I may live there. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?"H1732H559H397H4672H2580H5869H5414H4725H259H5892H7704H3427H5650H3427H4467H58926So that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and therefore, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until the present time.H397H5414H6860H3117H6860H4428H3063H31177David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months.H4557H3117H1732H3427H7704H6430H3117H702H2320
David’s Raids on the Land
8David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for they had been living in the land since ancient times, from the entrance of Shur all the way to the land of Egypt.H1732H582H5927H6584H1651H1511H6003H2007H5769H3427H776H935H7793H776H47149David struck the land and did not leave a man or woman alive. He took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, and then came back and went to Achish.H1732H5221H776H376H802H2421H3947H6629H1241H2543H1581H899H7725H935H39710Achish said, "Where did you raid today?" David answered, "Against the Negev of Judah, against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites."H397H559H408H6584H3117H1732H559H5045H3063H5045H3397H5045H701711David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring to Gath. He told himself, "Otherwise, they'll say, 'This is what David is doing, and this has been his practice all the time he has lived in Philistine territory.'"H1732H2421H376H802H2421H935H1661H559H5046H559H6213H1732H4941H3117H3427H7704H643012Achish believed David, telling himself, "He has certainly made himself repulsive to his people in Israel. He will be my servant forever."27H397H539H1732H559H5971H3478H887H887H5650H5769