1Sa 27:1-6 | ESV | STEP | Then David said in his heart , Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul . There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines . Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel , and I shall escape out of his hand .

1 Samuel 27:1-6

David Flees to the Philistines

1 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 So David arose and went over, he and ^athe six hundred men who were with him, ^bto Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with ^chis two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.

5 Then David said to Achish, “If ^dI have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him ^eZiklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.