1 Samuel 27

And David said to his heart, “Now I will be swept away one day by the hand of Saul. {There is} no good for me except escaping, I should escape to the land of the Philistines. And Saul will despair of me to seek me again in all of the border of Israel, and I will escape from his hand.”

And David arose and passed over, he and 600 men who {were} with him, to Achish. The son of Maoch, the king of Gath.

And David dwelled with Achish in Gath, he and his men, a man and his house, David and the two of his wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, the wife of Nabal.

And it was declared to Saul that David had fled {to} Gath, and he did not add to seek him more. \*

And David said to Achish, “Please, if I have found favor in your eyes, may they give to me a place in one of the cities of the field, and let me dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the city of the kingship with you?”

So on that day Achish gave to him Ziklag. (Therefore Ziklag is to the kings of Judah to this day.) \*

And the number of the days that David dwelled in the field of the Philistines was days and four months.

And David and his men went up and raided against the Geshurite and the Girzite and the Amalekite (for they were dwelling in the land, that from ancient times) in your going to Shur and to the land of Egypt.

And David struck the land and did not let a man or a woman live. And he took sheep and cattle and donkeys and camels and garments. And he returned and came to Achish. \*

And Achish said, “Have you not raided today?” And David said, “Against the Negeb of Judah” or “against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelite” or “against the Negeb of the Kenite.”

Now David did not let a man or a woman live to bring {to} Gath, saying, “Lest they declare about us, saying, ‘Thus did David do.’” And this {was} his custom all of the days that he dwelled in the field of the Philistines.

And Achish trusted in David, saying, “Stinking, he stinks among his people in Israel, so he will be to me for a servant forever.” \*