XXVII. * 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 athe six hundred men that were with him bunto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of cGath. 3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David dwith 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 eI 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 fthe royal city with thee? 6 Then Achish gave him gZiklag 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 hhis men went up, and invaded ithe Geshurites, and the * Gezrites, and the jAmalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land kas 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 lthe 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 mthe Jerahmeelites, and against the south of nthe Kenites. 11 And David osaved 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.