1 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 escape into the land
of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all
the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 2 David arose,
and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the
son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 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. 4 It was told
Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
5 David said to Achish, If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them
give me a place in one of the cities 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: why Ziklag pertains to the kings of Judah to
this day. 7 The number of the days that David lived in the country of the
Philistines was a full year and four months. 8 David and his men went up,
and made a raid on the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for
those nations were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old, as
you go to Shur, even to the land of Egypt. 9 David struck the land, and
saved neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and
the donkeys, and the camels, and the clothing; and he returned, and came to
Achish. 10 Achish said, Against whom have you made a raid today?
David said, Against the South of Judah, and against the South of the
Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites. 11 David saved
neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying, Lest they should
tell of us, saying, So did David, and so has been his manner all the while he
has lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 Achish believed David,
saying, He has made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he
shall be my servant forever.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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