1 David said to himself: “I shall perish some day at the hand of Saul. I have no choice but to escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will give up his continual search for me throughout the land of Israel, and I will be out of his reach.”
2 Accordingly, David departed with his six hundred soldiers and went over to Achish, son of Maoch, king of Gath.
3 David and his men lived in Gath with Achish; each one had his family, and David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.
4 When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
5 David said to Achish: “If I meet with your approval, let me have a place to live in one of the country towns. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?”
6 That same day Achish gave him Ziklag, which has, therefore, belonged to the kings of Judah up to the present time.