1 Samuel 27

8–12 However, David had no intention of attacking Israelites; instead, he started attacking people to the south—Geshurites (Joshua 13:1–2), Girzites, and Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1–3)—all enemies of Israel (verse 8). In this way David benefited the Israelites, and they began more and more to look upon him as Israel’s defender. Meanwhile, Achish saw all the plunder David captured and assumed it had come from Israelite towns!

David clearly intended to deceive Achish. First, he killed all the people from the towns he attacked (verse 9), so that no one would be left alive to report to Achish that David had in fact been attacking non-Israelite towns¹⁰¹ (verse 11).

Second, whenever Achish asked David where he had gone raiding, David gave him the names of places occupied or controlled by Israelites—the Negev of Judah and other places in the Negev¹⁰² (verse 10)—places that Achish couldn’t check up on. Achish was pleased; he trusted David. He thought David was surely becoming odious to his fellow Israelites and would never be able to return to Israel (verse 12). How mistaken he was!

In this way David bided his time during the remainder of Saul’s lifetime. He raided Israel’s enemies, he gained support among the Israelites, and he enjoyed the confidence of Achish. Though Scripture does not condone all of David’s methods, it is clear that God continued to be with him during this period (1 Samuel 16:13,18; 18:14).