1
And Davidsaid in his heart, I shall now perish[a]oneday by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedilyescape 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 Davidarose, and he passed over with the sixhundredmen that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch,king of Gath.
3
And Daviddwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his twowives,Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess,Nabal'swife.
4
And it was toldSaul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
5
And Davidsaid unto Achish, If I have now foundgrace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in sometown in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servantdwell in the royalcity with thee?
6
Then Achishgave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
7
And the time[b]thatDaviddwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and fourmonths.
8
And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites,[c] and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
9
And Davidsmote the land, and left neither man nor womanalive, 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 Achishsaid, Whither[d] have ye made a road to day? And Davidsaid, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
11
And Davidsaved neither man nor womanalive, to bring tidings to Gath,saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So didDavid, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
12
And AchishbelievedDavid,saying, He hath made his peopleIsraelutterly[e] to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.