David Settles in Philistine Territory
Study note
David decided he would eventually be caught if he stayed in Israel, so he took his six hundred men and their families to Achish king of Gath. This time David was not alone and afraid like before. When Saul heard David had fled to Gath, he finally stopped searching for him. David asked Achish for a town of his own instead of living in the royal city. Achish gave him Ziklag, a town on the border between Philistine and Israelite territory. David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months.
1 David thought to himself, "Sooner or later, Saul is going to catch up with me and kill me. My best option is to get out of Israel completely and escape into Philistine territory. Once I am there, Saul will finally give up searching for me within Israel's borders, and I will be safe." 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 So David set out with his six hundred men and crossed over to Achish, the son of Maoch, who was king of Gath. 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 David and his men settled in Gath, living near King Achish. Every man brought his family along. David had his two wives with him: Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal's widow from Carmel. 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 When Saul was told that David had run off to Gath, he finally stopped hunting for him. And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
5 David said to Achish, "If you are happy with me, please give me a town out in the countryside where I can settle down. There is no reason for me to live here in the royal city with you." 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 That very day, Achish gave David the town of Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
7 David lived in Philistine territory for a total of one year and four months. And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
David's Secret Raids
Study note
David used Ziklag as a base for raiding various peoples who were enemies of both Israel and the Philistines, including the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites. He left no survivors so no one could report what he was really doing. When Achish asked where David had been raiding, David lied and said he had been attacking the southern parts of Judah and its allies. Achish believed David and thought David had made himself so hated by his own people that he would serve the Philistines forever.
8 During that time, David and his men went on raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. These groups had been living in the region for a long time, in the area stretching from Telam toward Shur and down to Egypt. 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 Whenever David raided an area, he ensured no one survived to tell the tale. He seized sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, then returned to Achish. 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 Whenever Achish asked, "Where did you raid today?" David would answer, "The southern part of Judah," or "The southern area of the Jerahmeelites," or "The Kenite territory in the south." 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 David never left anyone alive who could be brought back to Gath to expose him. He figured, "If any survivors talk, they will give us away." This was his standard practice the entire time he lived among the Philistines. 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 Achish completely believed David. He thought, "David has made himself so hated by his own people in Israel that he will have to serve me for the rest of his life." And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.