^1. THEN David said [2] to himself, �Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than [1] 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 [3] widow.

^4. Now it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he no longer 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 [4] 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 [7] Negev of Judah and against the [6] Negev of the Jerahmeelites and against the [5] 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.�