1 Samuel

1 Samuel 27 ©

1 Saul hearing that David was fled to Gath seeketh no more for him. 5 David beggeth Ziklag of Achish. 8 He invadeth some other countries, but persuadeth Achish that he warred against Judah.

1

AND David asaid in his heart, I shall now 1perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

2

And David arose, and bhe passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of cGath.

3

And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with dhis two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

4

And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and ehe sought no more again for him.

5

¶And David said unto Achish, If fI have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell gin the royal city with thee?

6

Then Achish gave him hZiklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

7

And 2the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was 3a full year and four months.

8

¶And David and his men went up, and invaded the iGeshurites, and the 4Gezrites, and the jAmalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to kShur, even unto the land of Egypt.

9

And David lsmote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the *apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

10

And Achish said, 5Whither have ye made a *road to day? And David msaid, Against nthe south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

11

And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, oLest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his *manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

12

And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly 6to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.