1 David thought to himself: »One of these days Saul will kill me. The best thing for me to do is escape to Philistia. Saul will give up looking for me in Israel. Then I will be safe.«2 David and his six hundred men went over at once to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.3 David and his men and their families lived with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.4 Word soon reached Saul that David fled to Gath. So he stopped hunting for him.5 David said to Achish: »If it is all right with you, let me live in one of the outlying towns. Why should I live in the royal city with you?«6 Achish immediately gave him Ziklag. This is why Ziklag still belongs to the kings of Judah today.7 David lived in Philistine territory for one year and four months.8 David and his men raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. Their territory extends from Telaim to Shur and Egypt.9 David attacked the territory and left no man or woman alive. He also took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and returned to Achish.10 Achish would ask: »Whom did you raid today?« David would answer: »The south country Negev in Judah, or the south country of the Jerahmeelites, or the south country of the Kenites.«11 He did not bring a single man or woman back to Gath alive. He thought, they could tell Achish what I really did. This was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.12 Achish trusted David and thought: »David’s people must be furious with him. From now on he will have to take orders from me.«