271 Then David said to himself , "Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul . There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines . Saul then will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel , and I will escape from his hand ." 2 So David arose and crossed over , he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch , king of Gath . 3 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 . 4 Now it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath , so he no longer e searched for him. 5 Then David said to Achish , "If now I have found favor in your sight , let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country , that I may live there ; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?" 6 So Achish gave him Ziklag that day ; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day . 7 The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months .
8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites ; for they were the inhabitants of the land from ancient times , as you come to Shur even as far as the land of Egypt . 9 David attacked the land and did not leave a man or a woman alive , and he took away the sheep , the cattle , the donkeys , the camels , and the clothing . Then he returned and came to Achish . 10 Now Achish said , "Where have you made a raid today ?" And David said , "Against the Negev of Judah and against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites and against the Negev of the Kenites ." 11 David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring to Gath , saying , "Otherwise they will tell about us, saying , 'So has David done and so has been his practice all the time he has lived in the country of the Philistines .' " 12 So Achish believed David , saying , "He has surely made himself odious among his people Israel ; therefore he will become my servant forever ."
