1 Samuel 27:7-12

7 The time that David stayed in the Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.^[a]

8 David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites,^[b] and the Amalekites. From ancient times they had been the inhabitants of the region through Shur as far as the land of Egypt.

9 Whenever David attacked the land, he did not leave a single person alive, either man or woman, but he took flocks, herds, donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he came back to Achish,

10 who inquired, "Where did you raid today?"^[c] David replied, "The south country of Judah," "The south country of the Jerahmeelites," or "Against the south country of the Kenites."

11 David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, "Or they will inform on us and say, 'This is what David did.' " This was David's custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory.

12 So Achish trusted David, thinking, "Since he has made himself detestable to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever."

1 Samuel 27:7-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 27

David, fearing he should perish by the hand of Saul at one time or another, went into the land of the Philistines, which Saul hearing of, sought no more after him, 1Sa 27:1-4; and finding favour in the eyes of the king of Gath, desired a place in his country might be given him to reside in; and accordingly Ziklag was given him, 1Sa 27:5-7; from whence he made excursions into the land of the Amalekites, and others, and utterly destroyed them; but imposed on the king of Gath, pretending he had made his road into the southern parts of Judah, 1Sa 27:8-12.

Footnotes

• [a] 1 Sm 29:1-11
• [b] Alt Hb tradition reads Gezerites
• [c] Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg; LXX, Vg, DSS read Against whom did you raid today?