1
And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me to seek me any more within all the limits of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.
2
And David arose and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
3
And David abode with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household; David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jizreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
4
And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; and he sought no more for him.
5
And David said to Achish, If now I have found favour in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some country-town, that I may abide there; for why should thy servant abide in the royal city with thee?
6
And Achish gave him Ziklag that day; therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.
7
And the time that David abode in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.
8
And David and his men went up and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Gerzites, and the Amalekites: for those were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, and as far as the land of Egypt.