1 Samuel27

David, fearing he would eventually perish by Saul's hand, sought refuge with his six hundred men in the land of the Philistines, specifically with Achish, king of Gath. Achish granted David the city of Ziklag, where he resided for a year and four months. During this time, David secretly raided traditional enemies of Israel, such as the Geshurites and Amalekites, while deceiving Achish into believing he was attacking Judah.

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David Seeks Refuge in Philistia

David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.

David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.

And when Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

Achish Grants David Ziklag

Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let me be assigned a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. For why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

That day Achish gave him Ziklag, and to this day it still belongs to the kings of Judah.

And the time that David lived in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.

Deceptive Raids Against Israel's Enemies

Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these people had inhabited the land extending to Shur and Egypt.)

Whenever David attacked a territory, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but he took the flocks and herds, the donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he would return to Achish,

who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”

David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.

So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”

Study Notes for 1 Samuel 27

Verse 1

Driven by despair and exhaustion from Saul's relentless pursuit, David decides to rely on his own strategy rather than seeking guidance from God (through the ephod). This marks a low point of fear and human calculation in David’s spiritual journey.

Verse 2

David returns to Gath, the city of Goliath, where he had previously sought refuge and feigned madness (1 Sam 21:10-15). This demonstrates the extreme nature of the desperation he felt.

Verse 4

David’s political calculation proves correct: Saul gives up the search upon hearing David had fled to foreign territory. Saul likely viewed David as now outside of God’s protection and politically compromised.

Verse 6

Ziklag was a town originally assigned to the tribe of Simeon (Josh 19:5). By granting it to David, Achish strategically placed David in a frontier area, obligating him as a vassal and using him as a buffer against southern raiders.

Verse 7

This 16-month period is significant, marking a time when David was officially serving a foreign, enemy king, complicating his identity as the anointed king of Israel.

Verse 8

David raided traditional enemies of Israel (Amalekites, Geshurites) who lived on the southern borders. While these actions benefited Israel and secured necessary provisions, they were conducted under a cloak of deception toward his Philistine overlord.

Verse 10

David’s lie is carefully crafted. By claiming to have raided the 'south of Judah' and related tribes (Jerahmeelites, Kenites, who were allies or related to Israel), he convinced Achish that he was attacking his own people and thus becoming an enemy of Israel.

Verse 11

The total destruction of the population (leaving no survivors) was necessary to maintain the deception. Had any captives survived, they would have revealed to Achish that David was raiding Israel's enemies, not Israel itself.

Verse 12

Achish completely trusts David, believing the exile is permanent and the break with Israel is absolute. This deception sets up the dramatic conflict in the following chapter, where Achish expects David to fight alongside the Philistines against Israel.

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1 Samuel27

David Seeks Refuge in Philistia

Achish Grants David Ziklag

Deceptive Raids Against Israel's Enemies

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