1 Samuel 27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 27
David Flees to the Philistines. 1 David said to himself: “I shall perish some day at the hand of Saul. I have no choice but to escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will give up his continual search for me throughout the land of Israel, and I will be out of his reach.” 2 Accordingly, David departed with his six hundred soldiers and went over to Achish, son of Maoch, king of Gath.(A) 3 David and his men lived in Gath with Achish; each one had his family, and David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.(B) 4 When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
5 David said to Achish: “If I meet with your approval, let me have a place to live in one of the country towns. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?” 6 That same day Achish gave him Ziklag, which has, therefore, belonged to the kings of Judah[a] up to the present time.(C) 7 In all, David lived a year and four months in Philistine territory.(D)
David Raids Israel’s Foes. 8 David and his men went out on raids against the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites—peoples living in the land between Telam, on the approach to Shur, and the land of Egypt.(E) 9 In attacking the land David would not leave a man or woman alive, but would carry off sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, and clothes. Then he would return to Achish, 10 who would ask, “Against whom did you raid this time?” David would reply, “Against the Negeb of Judah,”[b] or “Against the Negeb of Jerahmeel,” or “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.”(F) 11 David never left a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath. He thought, “They will betray us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was his custom as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David, thinking, “His people Israel must certainly detest him. I shall have him as my vassal forever.”
Footnotes
- 27:6 Ziklag was a royal city and not part of Israel’s tribal land holdings. Jerusalem later enjoyed a similar status (2 Sm 5:7–9).
- 27:10 The Negeb of Judah: David deceives Achish by assuring him that he has attacked Israelite territory.
1 Samuel 27
Common English Bible
David serves the Philistine Achish
27 David thought, One day I will be destroyed by Saul’s power. The best thing for me to do is to escape to Philistine territory. Then Saul will give up looking for me in Israelite territory, and I will escape his power. 2 So David set out with his six hundred soldiers and went to Achish, Maoch’s son and Gath’s king. 3 David and his soldiers stayed there at Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow from Carmel. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he didn’t pursue him anymore.
5 Then David said to Achish, “If you approve of me, please give me a place in one of the towns in the country so I can live there. Why should I, your servant, live in the capital city with you?” 6 So Achish gave the town of Ziklag to David at that time. That’s why Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until now. 7 David lived in the Philistine countryside for a total of one year and four months.
8 David and his soldiers went out on raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. They were the people who lived in the land from Telam[a] to Shur all the way to the land of Egypt. 9 When David attacked an area, he wouldn’t leave anyone alive, man or woman. He would take the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothes and would then go back to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where did you raid today?”[b] David would say, “The southern plain of Judah,” or “The southern plain of the Jerahmeelites,” or “The southern plain of the Kenites.” 11 David never spared a man or woman so they could be brought back alive to Gath. “Otherwise,” he said, “they might talk about us, and say, ‘David did this or that.’” So this was David’s practice during the entire time he lived in the Philistine countryside.
12 Achish trusted David, thinking, David has alienated himself so badly from his own people in Israel that he’ll serve me forever.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 27:8 LXX; MT from long ago
- 1 Samuel 27:10 DSS (4QSama), LXX
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