Chapter 27

And David said⁴ in his heart, I shall now perish¹¹ one day by the hand of Saul: [there is] nothing better for me than that I should speedily⁹ escape¹¹ into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair⁸ of me, to seek¹⁵ me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape⁸ out of his hand.

And David arose,⁴ and he passed over⁴ with the six hundred men that [were] with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

And David dwelt⁴ 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.

And it was told⁹³ Saul that David was fled¹ to Gath: and he sought¹⁵ no more again^{1 3254 55} for him.

And David said⁴ unto Achish, If I have now found¹ grace in thine eyes, let them give⁴ me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell⁴ there: for why should thy servant dwell⁴ in the royal city with thee?

Then Achish gave⁴ him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

And the time ³¹¹⁷ that David dwelt¹ in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

And David and his men went up,⁴ and invaded⁴ the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those [nations were] of old the inhabitants⁶ of the land, as thou goest² to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

And David smote⁵² the land, and left neither man nor woman alive,¹⁷ and took away¹ the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned,⁴ and came⁴ to Achish.

And Achish said,⁴ Whither have ye made a road¹ to day? And David said,⁴ Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

And David saved neither man nor woman alive,¹⁷ to bring⁵³ [tidings] to Gath, saying,² Lest they should tell⁵⁵ on us, saying,² So did¹ David, and so [will be] his manner all the while he dwelleth¹ in the country of the Philistines.

And Achish believed⁵⁵ David, saying,² He hath made his people Israel utterly⁵³ to abhor⁵² him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.