271 Then David said to himself , "Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul . There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines . Saul then will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel , and I will escape from his hand ." 2 So David arose and crossed over , he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch , king of Gath . 3 And David lived with Achish at Gath , he and his men , each with his household , even David with his two wives , Ahinoam the Jezreelitess , and Abigail the Carmelitess , Nabal's widow . 4 Now it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath , so he no longer e searched for him. 5 Then David said to Achish , "If now I have found favor in your sight , let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country , that I may live there ; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?" 6 So Achish gave him Ziklag that day ; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day . 7 The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months .
8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites ; for they were the inhabitants of the land from ancient times , as you come to Shur even as far as the land of Egypt . 9 David attacked the land and did not leave a man or a woman alive , and he took away the sheep , the cattle , the donkeys , the camels , and the clothing . Then he returned and came to Achish . 10 Now Achish said , "Where have you made a raid today ?" And David said , "Against the Negev of Judah and against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites and against the Negev of the Kenites ." 11 David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring to Gath , saying , "Otherwise they will tell about us, saying , 'So has David done and so has been his practice all the time he has lived in the country of the Philistines .' " 12 So Achish believed David , saying , "He has surely made himself odious among his people Israel ; therefore he will become my servant forever ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 27:1-22
Commentary on 1 Samuel 27:1-7
(Read 1 Samuel 27:1-7)
Unbelief is a sin that easily besets even good men, when without are fightings, and within are fears; and it is a hard matter to get over them. Lord, increase our faith! We may blush to think that the word of a Philistine should go further than the word of an Israelite, and that the city of Gath should be a place of refuge for a good man, when the cities of Israel refuse him a safe abode. David gained a comfortable settlement, not only at a distance from Gath, but bordering upon Israel, where he might keep up a correspondence with his own countrymen.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 27:8-12
(Read 1 Samuel 27:8-12)
While David was in the land of the Philistines, he attacked some remains of the devoted nations. The people whom he cut off were long before doomed to destruction. It is often wisdom to shun public notice, but we must in no situation be idle. We must always try to do somewhat in the cause of God. This expedition David hid from Achish. But an equivocation which serves the purpose of a lie, is as like to it as a hypocrite is to a profane person, it is only better in appearance, therefore more dangerous. Yet, though believers often manifest imperfections, they can never be prevailed upon to renounce the service of God, and to unite interests with his enemies, or finally to become the servants of sin and Satan. But what a train of evils follow from unbelief! When we forget the Lord's past mercies, and his gracious assurances, we shall be overwhelmed with desponding fears, and probably be led to adopt some dishonourable method to get rid of our troubles. Nothing can so effectually establish us in holy tempers and practices, and preserve us from perplexities, as firm, unshaken dependence upon the promises of God in Christ Jesus.