1 Samuel, Chapter 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 part 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 to 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 had fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.    5. And David said to Achish, If I have now found grace 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?    6. Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to 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, on the way to Shur, even to the land of Egypt.    9. And David struck the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the donkeys, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.    10. And Achish said, Where have you made a raid today? 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 dwells in the country of the Philistines.    12. And Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel to completely abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.