1 Samuel chapter 27
English Standard Version
1Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand." 2So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal 's widow. 4And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.
5Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?" 6So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.
8Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10When Achish asked, "Where have you made a raid today?" David would say, "Against the Negeb of Judah," or, "Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites," or, "Against the Negeb of the Kenites." 11And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’" Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12And Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant."
New International Version
2So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath. 3David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
6So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. 7David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.
8Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.
10When Achish asked, "Where did you go raiding today?" David would say, "Against the Negev of Judah" or "Against the Negev of Jerahmeel" or "Against the Negev of the Kenites." 11He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, "They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’ " And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12Achish trusted David and said to himself, "He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life."
New American Standard Bible
1Then David said to himself, 'Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to safely escape into the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel, and I will escape from his hand.' 2So David set out and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3And David lived with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each with his own household—David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow. 4Now it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he no longer searched for him.
5Then David said to Achish, 'If now I have found favor in your sight, have them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, so that I may live there; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?' 6So Achish gave him Ziklag that day; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.
8Now David and his men went up and attacked the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for they were the inhabitants of the land from ancient times, as you come to Shur even as far as the land of Egypt. 9David attacked the land and did not leave a man or a woman alive, and he took the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he returned and came to Achish. 10Now Achish said, 'Where did you carry out an attack today?' And David said, 'Against the Negev of Judah, against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites.' 11And David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring to Gath, saying, 'Otherwise they will tell about us, saying, ‘This is what David has done, and this has been his practice all the time that he has lived in the country of the Philistines.’?' 12So Achish believed David, saying, 'He has undoubtedly made himself repulsive among his people Israel; therefore he will become my servant forever.'
Christian Standard Bible
1David said to himself, "One of these days I’ll be swept away by Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape immediately to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me everywhere in Israel, and I’ll escape from him." 2So David set out with his six hundred men and went over to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. 3David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4When it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
5Now David said to Achish, "If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?" 6That day Achish gave Ziklag to him, and it still belongs to the kings of Judah today. 7The length of time that David stayed in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.
8David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. From ancient times they had been the inhabitants of the region through Shur as far as the land of Egypt. 9Whenever David attacked the land, he did not leave a single person alive, either man or woman, but he took flocks, herds, donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he came back to Achish,
11David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, "Or they will inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’" This was David’s custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory. 12So Achish trusted David, thinking, "Since he has made himself repulsive to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever."
New Living Translation
2So David took his 600 men and went over and joined Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. 3David and his men and their families settled there with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives along with him — Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow from Carmel. 4Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him.
6So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag (which still belongs to the kings of Judah to this day), 7and they lived there among the Philistines for a year and four months.
8David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites — people who had lived near Shur, toward the land of Egypt, since ancient times. 9David did not leave one person alive in the villages he attacked. He took the sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing before returning home to see King Achish.
11No one was left alive to come to Gath and tell where he had really been. This happened again and again while he was living among the Philistines. 12Achish believed David and thought to himself, 'By now the people of Israel must hate him bitterly. Now he will have to stay here and serve me forever!'
King James Version
2And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3And 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. 4And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
5And 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? 6Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. 7And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
8And 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. 9And 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. 10And 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. 11And 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. 12And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
New King James Version
1And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.” 2Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3So David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow. 4And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; so he sought him no more.
5Then David said to Achish, “If I have now found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7Now the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was one full year and four months.
8And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. For those nations were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. 9Whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achish. 10Then Achish would say, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David would say, “Against the southern area of Judah, or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites.” 11David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’ ” And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. 12So Achish believed David, saying, “He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; therefore he will be my servant forever.”
What does 1 Samuel chapter 27 mean?
In 1 Samuel 27, David hides where Saul can't reach him. He's just had another strange interaction with his king. After proving he could have easily killed Saul, he hears Saul's apologies and promises of reconciliation (1 Samuel 26). But he's endured so many attempts on his life that he knows he can't trust Saul's words. David needs to leave the territory Israel holds before Saul catches him (1 Samuel 27:1).The first time David left Saul, he took the sword of Goliath and fled to Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. Achish's servants convinced Achish it was a bad idea to welcome the Jewish warrior who had killed their greatest champion. David only escaped by pretending to be insane (1 Samuel 21:8–15). David is tired of running from Saul, so he tries hiding in Philistia once again. This time, having watched Saul relentlessly hunt David and his men, Achish takes them in. Even better for David, Saul stops following them (1 Samuel 27:1–4).
Secure in Achish's good graces, David asks for a city where he can take his men and their families, where they won't be a burden on Achish's resources. Achish gives him Ziklag, about twenty miles southwest. David and his people live there peacefully for almost a year and a half (1 Samuel 27:5–7).
At least, that's what it looks like to Achish. David and his men make regular raids against the tribes God had told the Israelites to destroy. They stay even farther southeast, away from Philistine territory, and kill every person so word can't reach Achish. When Achish asks David what they're doing, David tells him they're attacking cities in Judah. Achish is pleased to know Saul's one-time champion can never go home (1 Samuel 27:8–12).
David's deception is more effective than he might have preferred. When the time comes for the Philistines to amass against Israel, Achish brings David and his men with his own army. David claims to be eager to fight for the man who took them in. Fortunately, the other Philistine kings refuse to allow their greatest enemy to fight with them. David and his men return to Ziklag and find the city burned to the ground and their families gone. While they hunt the Amalekites who took their wives and children, Saul and Jonathan die in battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 29—31).
