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

1
And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. ​
2
And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. ​
3
And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
4
And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. ​

Achish Grants David Ziklag

5
And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
6
Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. ​
7
And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. ​

Deceptive Raids Against Israel's Enemies

8
And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. ​
9
And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.
10
And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. ​
11
And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. ​
12
And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever. ​

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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