1 Samuel 27:1-7

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

David Serves King Achish of Gath

27 David said in his heart, “I shall certainly perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” ² So David set out and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to King Achish son of Maoch of Gath.^{(A) 3} David stayed with Achish at Gath, he and his troops, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow.^{(B) 4} When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought for him.

⁵ Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your sight, let a place be given me in one of the country towns so that I may live there, for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” ⁶ So that day Achish gave him Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.^{(C) 7} The length of time that David lived in the country of the Philistines was one year and four months.^(D)