1And David said in his heart, “One of these days I shall die at the hand of Saul; the best thing for me to do is to quickly flee into the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will tire of looking for me within the borders of Israel; and I will avoid his grasp.” 2And so David, with his six hundred men, passed over to Achish, son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3And David and his men dwelt with Achish at Gath, each with his household, including David’s two wives, Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, the Carmelitess, Nabal's widow. 4And Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and so he no longer searched for him.

5And David said to Achish, “If I have found grace in your eyes, let them assign me a place in some town in the country, where I may live; for why should I live in the royal city with you?” 6Then Achish gave him Ziklag; that is why Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah unto this day. 7And David stayed in the country of the Philistines for a year and four months.

8And David and his men raided the Geshurites, the Girzrites, and the Amalekites; for they were the original inhabitants of the land that extended from Shur to the land of Egypt. 9And whenever David raided an area, he left no man or woman alive, but took the sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, and the apparel; and returned to Achish. 10And Achish asked, “Where have you raided today?” And David would say, “Against the south of Judah, and the south of the Jerah-meelites, and the south of the Kenites.” 11David left no man or woman alive, so they could not report to Gath where he had really raided. David continued in this manner all the while he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. 12And Achish believed David, saying, “He has made the people of Israel to utterly hate him; therefore, he shall be my servant forever.”