David and the Philistines

1 David said in his heart, “One of these days I am going to die at the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines, and Saul will despair of capturing me and will stop seeking me any more throughout the borders of Israel. So shall I escape from his hand.” 2 David arose and crossed over, he and the 600 men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife. 4 Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he no longer sought after him.

5 David said to Achish, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there. Why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 The number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

8 David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for those had been the inhabitants of the land since ancient times, from the road to Shur up to the land of Egypt. 9 David struck the land and left no man or woman alive and took the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he returned and came to Achish.

10 Achish said, “Against whom have you made a raid today?”

David said, “Against the South of Judah, against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.” 11 David left neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying, “Lest they should report on us, saying, ‘David did this, and this has been his way all the time he has lived in the country of the Philistines.’ ”

12 Achish trusted David, saying, “He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him. Therefore he will be my servant forever.”

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