1 Samuel 27: David Among the Philistines
David chooses exile in Gath over another chase through the wilderness.
David decides he will never be safe from Saul in Israel and crosses over to live under Achish, king of Gath, with his six hundred men and two wives. It's a sharp turn after the mercy David showed in 1 Samuel 26, trading wilderness pursuit for shelter among the Philistines.
And David said, unto his own heart, Now, shall I be swept off, in a single day, by the hand of Saul,—there is nothing for me better than that I, escape, into the land of the Philistines, so shall Saul give up seeking for me any more, in any of the bounds of Israel, so shall I escape out of his hand.
And David arose, and he and the six hundred men that were with him passed over, unto Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.
And David abode with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each man with his household,—David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal, the Carmelite.
And, when it was told Saul, that David had fled to Gath, he added no more, to seek him.
Then said David unto Achish—If, I pray thee, I have found favour in thine eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there,—for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city, with thee?
So Achish gave him, on that day, Ziklag,—wherefore Ziklag hath pertained unto the kings of Judah, unto this day.
And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines became a year and four months.
And David and his men went up, and made a raid against the Geshurites and the Gizrites and the Amalekites,—for, they, were the inhabitants of the land who had been from age-past times, as thou enterest Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt.
Now, when David would smite a land, he used to save alive neither man nor woman,—but took sheep and oxen, and asses and camels, and apparel, and returned, and came in unto Achish.
Then said Achish, Whither have ye made a raid, to-day? And David said—Against the South of Judah, or against the South of the Jerahmeelites, or as far as the South of the Kenites.
But, neither man nor woman, used David to save alive, to bring into Gath, for he said, Lest they tell of us, saying,—So, hath David done, and, such, his manner, all the days that he hath dwelt in the country of the Philistines.
And Achish believed in David, saying,—He hath made himself, odious, unto his own people, unto Israel, therefore shall he be my servant all his life long.