1 Samuel 27:3
New International Version
David 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.

New Living Translation
David 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.

English Standard Version
And 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.

Berean Standard Bible
David 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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So 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.

New American Standard Bible
And 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.

NASB 1995
And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow.

NASB 1977
And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow.

Legacy Standard Bible
And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.

Amplified Bible
And David lived 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, [who was] Nabal’s widow.

Christian Standard Bible
David 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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
David 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.

American Standard Version
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.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each one had his family, and David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal's wife) from Carmel.

Good News Translation
David and his men settled there in Gath with their families. David had his two wives with him, Ahinoam from Jezreel, and Abigail, Nabal's widow, from Carmel.

International Standard Version
David stayed with Achish in Gath along with his men, each of whom was with his household. David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

Majority Standard Bible
David 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.

NET Bible
David settled with Achish in Gath, along with his men and their families. David had with him his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal's widow.

New Heart English Bible
So David lived with Achish, he and his men, along with his men and their families, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
David lived 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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and David dwells with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, [even] David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelitess.

Young's Literal Translation
and David dwelleth with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, even David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelitess.

Smith's Literal Translation
And David dwelt with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each in his house, David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal, the Carmelitess.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David dwelt with Achis at Geth, he and his men: every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men: each man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam, the Jezreelite, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

New American Bible
David and his men lived in Gath with Achish; each one had his family, and David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.

New Revised Standard Version
David stayed with Achish at Gath, he and his troops, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men and the household of David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David dwelt with Akish in Gath, he and his men and the men of the house of David and his two wives, Akhinam, who was from Yizrael, and Abigal, the wife of Nabal, who was from Karmela
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David dwelt with Anchus, he and his men, each with his family; and David and both his wives, Achinaam, the Jezraelitess, and Abigaia the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David and the Philistines
2So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the 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. 4And when Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 22:1-2
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. / And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

1 Samuel 30:1-5
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way. / When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. ...

2 Samuel 2:3
David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

1 Chronicles 12:1
Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle;

1 Chronicles 12:22
For at that time men came to David day after day to help him, until he had a great army, like the army of God.

2 Samuel 5:1-3
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. / Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” / So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

2 Samuel 23:13-17
At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. / At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. / David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” ...

1 Kings 2:39-40
After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.” / So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

1 Chronicles 12:19-20
Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”) / When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh.

2 Samuel 15:18
and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

2 Samuel 3:1
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel 23:8-39
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, / but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. ...

1 Samuel 25:13
And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

1 Samuel 23:13
Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

1 Samuel 21:10
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.


Treasury of Scripture

And David dwelled 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.

with his two

1 Samuel 25:3,18-35,42,43
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb…

1 Samuel 30:5
And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

Jump to Previous
Abigail Ab'igail Abode Achish A'chish Ahinoam Ahin'o-Am Carmel Carmelitess David Dwelt Household Jezreel Jezreelitess Jizreelitess Nabal Nabal's Widow Wife Wives
Jump to Next
Abigail Ab'igail Abode Achish A'chish Ahinoam Ahin'o-Am Carmel Carmelitess David Dwelt Household Jezreel Jezreelitess Jizreelitess Nabal Nabal's Widow Wife Wives
1 Samuel 27
1. Saul, hearing David to be in Gath, seeks no more for him
5. David begs Ziklag of Achish
8. He, invading other countries, persuades Achish he fought against Judah.














David and his men settled in Gath
The phrase "David and his men settled in Gath" is significant in understanding David's strategic and survival decisions. Gath was one of the five Philistine city-states, and its mention here highlights David's complex relationship with the Philistines. Historically, Gath was a formidable city, known for its giants, including Goliath, whom David had previously defeated. The Hebrew root for "settled" (יָשַׁב, yashab) implies a sense of dwelling or abiding, indicating that David was seeking refuge and stability amidst his ongoing conflict with Saul. This move to Gath, under the protection of Achish, the Philistine king, reflects David's tactical acumen and his ability to navigate political landscapes for the safety of his men and their families.

with Achish
The name "Achish" is significant as it represents a Philistine king who had previously encountered David. Achish's willingness to harbor David suggests a level of respect or strategic advantage he saw in aligning with David. In the broader scriptural context, Achish's acceptance of David can be seen as part of God's providential care, using even foreign rulers to provide for His anointed. The historical context reveals that alliances between Israelites and Philistines, though rare, were not unheard of, and this relationship underscores the complexity of David's life as a fugitive.

each man with his family
This phrase emphasizes the communal aspect of David's leadership. Unlike many ancient leaders who might prioritize their own safety, David ensures that his men and their families are provided for. The Hebrew understanding of "family" (מִשְׁפָּחָה, mishpachah) encompasses a broader sense of kinship and community, reflecting the importance of familial bonds in Israelite society. This decision to bring families along highlights David's role not just as a military leader but as a shepherd of his people, caring for their holistic well-being.

and David had his two wives
The mention of "two wives" reflects the cultural and historical practices of the time, where polygamy was not uncommon among leaders. David's wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, are significant figures in his life. The Hebrew culture often viewed marriage as a means of alliance and social stability. This detail also foreshadows the complexities and challenges David would face in his personal life, which are explored in later narratives.

Ahinoam of Jezreel
Ahinoam's identification as "of Jezreel" provides geographical context, linking her to a specific region in Israel. Jezreel was a fertile valley, and its mention may indicate her family's prominence or the strategic importance of her marriage to David. The name Ahinoam (אֲחִינֹעַם) means "brother of pleasantness," which may reflect her character or the nature of her relationship with David.

and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal
Abigail is introduced with her background, "the widow of Nabal," which is crucial in understanding her role in David's life. Her previous marriage to Nabal, a wealthy but foolish man, and her subsequent wise intervention to prevent David from taking vengeance, are detailed in earlier chapters. Abigail's presence in David's life is a testament to her wisdom and discernment, qualities that were highly valued in Hebrew culture. Her account is a powerful example of God's providence and the impact of righteous actions.

(3) And David dwelt with Achish at Gath.--His reception by the Philistines seems to have been most kindly. There was a wide difference between the circumstances of this and his former visit to Gath. Then he was a fugitive, almost unattended; now he was at the head of an army of trained and devoted soldiers. Such a guest might be of the greatest service to the Philistines in their perpetual wars with Saul, with whom David would now be considered to have finally broken off all relations, seeing he had sought a home and shelter among the most bitter of his foes.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
David
דָּוִ֨ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

and his men
וַאֲנָשָׁ֖יו (wa·’ă·nā·šāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

settled
וַיֵּשֶׁב֩ (way·yê·šeḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in Gath
בְּגַ֛ת (bə·ḡaṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1661: Gath -- 'wine press', a Philistine city

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

Achish,
אָכִ֥ישׁ (’ā·ḵîš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 397: Achish -- king of Gath

and each man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

had his family with him.
וּבֵית֑וֹ (ū·ḇê·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

David
דָּוִד֙ (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

had his two
וּשְׁתֵּ֣י (ū·šə·tê)
Conjunctive waw | Number - fdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

wives,
נָשָׁ֔יו (nā·šāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

Ahinoam
אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ (’ă·ḥî·nō·‘am)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 293: Ahinoam -- 'my brother is delight', two Israelite women

of Jezreel
הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔ית (hay·yiz·rə·‘ê·lîṯ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3159: A Jezreelitess

and Abigail
וַאֲבִיגַ֥יִל (wa·’ă·ḇî·ḡa·yil)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 26: Abigail -- 'my father is joy', two Israelite women

of Carmel,
הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽית׃ (hak·kar·mə·lîṯ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3762: Carmelitess -- a Carmelite woman

the widow
אֵֽשֶׁת־ (’ê·šeṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

of Nabal.
נָבָ֖ל (nā·ḇāl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5037: Nabal -- a man of Carmel


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OT History: 1 Samuel 27:3 David lived with Achish at Gath he (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 27:2
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