David and the Philistines

1David, however (beloved), said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul (desired). There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines (immigrants). Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel (he wrestles with God), and I will slip out of his hand.”

2So David (beloved) set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish (I will blacken) son of Maoch (Maacah),a the king of Gath (winepress). 3David (beloved) and his men settled in Gath (winepress) with Achish (I will blacken). Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam (my brother is delight) of Jezreel and Abigail (my father is joy) of Carmel, the widow of Nabal (fool). 4And when Saul (desired) learned that David (beloved) had fled to Gath (winepress), he no longer searched for him.

5Then David (beloved) said to Achish (I will blacken), “If I have found favor in your eyes, let me be assigned a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. For why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

6That day Achish (I will blacken) gave him Ziklag (winding), and to this day it still belongs to the kings of Judah (praised). 7And the time that David (beloved) lived in Philistine (immigrants) territory amounted to a year and four months.

8Now David (beloved) and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites (a portion), and the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley). (From ancient times these people had inhabited the land extending to Shur (wall) and Egypt (land of bondage).) 9Whenever David (beloved) attacked a territory, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but he took the flocks and herds, the donkeys, camels, and clothing.

Then he would return to Achish (I will blacken), 10who (I will blacken) would ask him, “What have you⁺ raided today?”

And David (beloved) would reply, “The Negev (southland) of Judah (praised),” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites (smiths).”

11David (beloved) did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath (winepress), for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine (immigrants) territory.

12So Achish (I will blacken) trusted David (beloved), thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel (he wrestles with God), he will be my servant forever.”