1 Kings 27

¹And David said in his heart: at length I shall fall one day into the hands of Saul: is it not better that I fly, and be saved in the Land of the Philistians, that Saul may despair, and cease to seek me in all the coasts of Israel? I will fly therefore his hands.

²And David arose, and went himself, and the six hundred men with him, to Achis the son of Maoch, the king of Geth.

³And David dwelt with Achis in Geth, he & his men; every man & his house: & David & his two wives, Achinoam the Jezrahelite, & Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

⁴And it was told Saul that David was fled into Geth, and he added no more to seek him.

⁵And David said to Achis: If I have grace in thy sight, let there a place be given me in one of thy cities of this country, that I may dwell there: for why abideth thy servant in the city of the king with thee?

⁶Achis therefore gave him in that day Siceleg: for which cause Siceleg became the kings' of Juda until this day.

⁷And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistians, was four months.

⁸And David went up, and his men, and drave preys out of Gessuri, and Gerzi, and from the Amalecites: for these villages were inhabited in the land in old time, as men go to Sur, as far as the Land of Ægypt.

⁹And David struck all the land, neither left he any man or woman: and taking the sheep, & oxen, and asses, & camels, and garments, he returned & came to Achis.

¹⁰And Achis said to him: Whom hast thou set upon today? David answered: Against the south of Juda, and against the south of Ieramiel, and against the south of Ceni.

¹¹David gave life neither to man nor woman, neither brought them into Geth, saying: Lest perhaps they speak against us. These things did David, and this was decreed of him all the days that he dwelt in the country of the Philistians.

¹²Achis therefore did credit David, saying: Many evils hath he wrought against his people Israel: Therefore he shall be my servant for ever.