1 Samuel 27:1–7

¹And 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. ²And David arose and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. ³And 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. ⁴And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; and he sought no more for him. ⁵And 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? ⁶And Achish gave him Ziklag that day; therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day. ⁷And the time that David abode in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.