1 Samuel 27:1–7

¹And David saith unto his heart, ‘Now am I consumed one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing for me better than that I diligently escape unto the land of the Philistines, and Saul hath been despairing of me—of seeking me any more in all the border of Israel, and I have escaped out of his hand.’ ²And David riseth, and passeth over, he and six hundred men who are with him, unto Achish son of Maoch king of Gath; ³and David dwelleth with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, even David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelitess. ⁴And it is declared to Saul that David hath fled to Gath, and he hath not added any more to seek him. ⁵And David saith unto Achish, ‘If, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes, then give to me a place in one of the cities of the field, and I dwell there, yea, why doth thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?’ ⁶And Achish giveth to him in that day Ziklag, therefore hath Ziklag been to the kings of Judah till this day. ⁷And the number of the days which David hath dwelt in the field of the Philistines is days and four months.