1 Samuel 27

27 ¹ David thought, "One day I'll be swept away by Saul's hand. Better for me to escape, escape to Philistine land. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel's borders, and I'll escape his hand." ² David set out with his six hundred men to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath. ³ David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household — David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. ⁴ When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

⁵ David said to Achish, "If you favor me, give me a place in one of the country towns to live in. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?" ⁶ That day Achish gave him Ziklag; so Ziklag has belonged to Judah's kings to this day. ⁷ The length of time David lived in Philistine territory was a year and four months.

⁸ David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, for they had lived in that land from ancient times, toward Shur and to the land of Egypt. ⁹ Whenever David attacked the land, he left no man or woman alive, took the sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, then returned to Achish.

¹⁰ Achish would ask, "Where did you raid today?" David would say, "The Negev of Judah," "the Negev of the Jerahmeelites," or "the Negev of the Kenites."

¹¹ David left no man or woman alive to bring to Gath, thinking, "They might report on us, saying, 'This is what David did.'" This was his practice the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.

¹² Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself utterly detestable to his people Israel; he will be my servant forever."