1 Samuel 27



1.  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 the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3.  And David dwelt * with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with 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 I 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 the royal city with thee?

6.  Then Achish gave * him Ziklag 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 his men went up * , and invaded * the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants * of the land, as 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 the 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 the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

11.  And David saved * 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.