David, fearing Saul, takes refuge with the Philistine king Achish, who gives him the town of Ziklag. David raids Israel's enemies but leads Achish to think he is raiding Judah.
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 shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel : so shall I escape out of his hand .
2 And David arose , and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish , the son of Maoch , king of Gath .
3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath , he and his men , every man with his household , even David with his two wives , Ahinoam the Jezreelitess , and Abigail the Carmelitess , Nabal's wife .
4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath : and he sought no more again for him.
5 And David said unto Achish , If I have now found grace in thine eyes , let them give me a place in some town in the country , that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day : wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day .
7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months .
8 And David and his men went up , and invaded the Geshurites , and the Gezrites , 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 David smote the land , and left neither man nor woman alive , 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 Achish said , Whither have ye made a road to day ? And David said , Against the south of Judah , and against the south of the Jerahmeelites , and against the south of the Kenites .
11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive , to bring tidings to Gath , saying , Lest they should tell on us, saying , So did David , and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines .
12 And Achish believed David , saying , He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever .