1
And David said in his heart, Now I shall be gathered one day into the hand of Saul. There is nothing◦ better for me than that escaping, I should escape to▵ the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me to seek me any··more within◦ all the border of Israel, and I shall escape from his hand.
2
And 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 dwelt with Achish in Gath, he◦ and his men◦, a man◦ and his house, David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.
4
And it was··told Saul that David ran··away to Gath; and he sought him not any··more again.
5
And David said to▵ Achish, If now◦ I have··found grace in thine eyes, let them give to me a place in one of the cities of the field, and I shall dwell there; and why should thy servant dwell in the city of the kingdom with thee?
6
And Achish gave Ziklag to him that◦ day; therefore Ziklag pertains to the kings of Judah to◦ this day.
7
And the number of the days that David dwelt in the field of the Philistines was a year* and four months.
8
And David and his men◦ went··up, and attacked the Geshurites and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites; for they◦ were the inhabitants◦ of the land from an age, as thou comest to Shur and even··to the land of Egypt.
9
And David smote the land, and let··live neither a man◦ nor◦ a woman, and took flocks and herds, and donkeys and camels, and garments; and he returned and came to▵ Achish.
10
And Achish said, Did you not attack today? And David said, Against the south of Judah, against the south of the Jerahmeelite, and against▵ the south of the Kenite.
11
And man◦ and woman David let· not ·live to bring to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, Thus did David, and thus has been his judgment all the days that he dwelt in the field of the Philistines.
12
And Achish believed David, saying, Stinking he has made himself stink with his people, with Israel; and he shall be my eternal servant.
