English · CJB

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.

David Seeks Refuge in Philistia

1
But David said to himself, "One day Sha'ul will sweep me away. The best thing for me to do is to escape into the territory of the P'lishtim. Then Sha'ul will give up trying to find me here or there in Isra'el's territory, and at last I'll be free of him." ​
2
So David set out with his six hundred men and passed on to Akhish the son of Ma'okh, king of Gat. ​
3
David lived with Akhish, he and his men, each man with his household - including David with his two wives Achino'am from Yizre'el and Avigayil from Karmel, Naval's widow.
4
Sha'ul was told that David had escaped to Gat, whereupon he stopped searching for him. ​

Achish Grants David Ziklag

5
David said to Akhish, "If you are now favorably disposed toward me, let me have a place to live in one of the cities in the countryside. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?"
6
That very day Akhish gave him Ziklag, and that's why to this day Ziklag belongs to the kings of Y'hudah. ​
7
After David had been living in the country of the P'lishtim for a year and four months, ​

Deceptive Raids Against Israel's Enemies

8
he and his men began going up and raiding the G'shuri, the Gizri and the 'Amaleki (from ancient times these people had lived in the land in the direction of Shur, all the way to Egypt). ​
9
David would attack the land, leaving alive neither men nor women, but taking the sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and clothing. Then he would return and go to Akhish.
10
Akhish would ask, "Where were you raiding today?" and David would answer, "Against the Negev of Y'hudah," or "Against the Negev of the Yerachme'eli," or "Against the Negev of the Keni." ​
11
The reason David spared neither men nor women to be brought to Gat is that he thought, "We don't want them telling on us, saying, 'David did so-and-so.'" That's how he conducted his raids for as long as he lived in the country of the P'lishtim. ​
12
And Akhish believed him; he said, "David has caused his own people Isra'el to despise him utterly; 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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