1 Samuel 27:1-28:2
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)
8 Now David and his men went up and made raids on the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the landed settlements from Telam[a] on the way to Shur and on to the land of Egypt.(E) 9 David struck the land, leaving neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing and came back to Achish.(F) 10 When Achish asked, “Against whom[b] have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.”(G) 11 David left neither man nor woman alive to be brought back to Gath, thinking, “They might tell about us and say, ‘David has done so and so.’ ” Such was his practice all the time he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself utterly abhorrent to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”
28 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.”(H) 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, then you shall know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
1 Samuel 27:1-28:2
International Standard Version
David Escapes to Philistine Territory
27 David told 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 anymore within the borders of Israel, so I’ll escape from him.” 2 So David got up, and he and the 600 men who were with him went to Maoch’s son Achish, the king of Gath. 3 David 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. 4 Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he did not continue to search for him.
Achish Gives Ziklag to David
5 David told Achish, “If it pleases you, give me a place in one of the outlying towns,[a] so I may live there. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and therefore, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until the present time. 7 David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months.
David’s Raids on the Land
8 David and his men went up and raided the descendants of Geshur, the descendants of Girzi, and the Amalekites, for they had been living in the land since ancient times, from the entrance of[b] Shur all the way to the land of Egypt. 9 David 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.
10 Achish said, “Where did you raid today?”
David answered, “Against the Negev[c] of Judah, against the Negev[d] of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev[e] of the Kenites.” 11 David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring to Gath. He told himself,[f] “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.’”
12 Achish believed David, telling himself,[g] “He has certainly made himself repulsive to his people in Israel. He will be my servant forever.”
The Philistines Prepare to Fight against Israel
28 At that time the Philistines assembled their army for war to fight against Israel. Achish told David, “You know, of course, that you and your men will go out with me into the battle.”
2 David told Achish, “Very well, you will now see[h] what your servant will do.”
Achish told David, “Very well, I’ll appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 27:5 Lit. one of the towns of the field
- 1 Samuel 27:8 Lit. times, where you enter
- 1 Samuel 27:10 I.e. southern region of Israel; cf. Josh 10:40
- 1 Samuel 27:10 Or the southern region
- 1 Samuel 27:10 Or the southern region
- 1 Samuel 27:11 The Heb. lacks himself
- 1 Samuel 27:12 The Heb. lacks himself
- 1 Samuel 28:2 Lit. you will know
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