David among the Philistines
1David thought, “Some day I shall die at the hand of Saul. It is better for me to escape to the land of the Philistines where I shall be beyond his reach and Saul will get tired of searching for me within the borders of Israel.” 2So David went with his six hundred men to Achish, son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3He and his men lived with Achish in Gath; each one had his family with him and David had his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4When Saul was informed that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
5David said to Achish, “If I meet with your approval, let me have a place to live in one of the country towns. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” 6That very day, Achish gave David Ziklag, which since then and up to the present time has belonged to the kings of Judah. 7David lived one year and four months in the country of the Philistines.
8David and his men raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites, all these lived in the land extending from Telem to Shur and the land of Egypt. 9David would attack the land leaving neither man nor woman alive and carrying off their sheep, oxen, asses, camels and garments. Then he would come back to Achish. 10Whenever Achish asked, “Whom did you raid this time?” David would answer, “The Negeb of Judah,” or “The Negeb of the Jarahmeelites,” or “The Negeb of the Kenites.” 11David left neither man nor woman alive. For he said, “If I brought them to Gath, they could talk against us and say: This is what David did.” Such was his practice as long as he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12Achish trusted David and said to himself, “David is now hated by his own people. He shall be my servant forever.”
