1 ¶ But David said to himself, I could be killed by Saul at any time: the best course for me is to escape into the land of the Philistines; then Saul will stop hunting for me in the land of Israel: and I will escape from his grip.

2 So David arose, and he along with the six hundred men who were with him went over to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 And David stayed with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.

4 And Saul was told that David had fled to Gath: so he no longer searched for him.

5 And David said to Achish, If I have now found favor in your eyes, let me be given a place to dwell in some country town: for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?

6 And that day Achish gave him the town of Ziklag: therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.

7 And the time that David stayed in the land of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

8 ¶ Now David and his men went up, and attacked the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations had been the inhabitants of the region from ancient times, through Shur, as far as the land of Egypt.

9 And David devastated the land, leaving neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the donkeys, and the camels, and the clothing, and returned to Achish.

10 When Achish asked, Against whom have you made a raid today? David would reply, Against the south country of Judah, or the south country of the Jerahmeelites, or the south country of the Kenites.

11 But David did not let a man or woman live, to bring tidings to Gath, thinking, Lest they should tell on us, and say, That is what David did, and that is what he will do as long as he lives in the land of the Philistines.

12 And Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly detest him; therefore he will be my servant forever.