271 And David saith unto his heart, 'Now am I consumed one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing for me better than that I diligently escape unto the land of the Philistines, and Saul hath been despairing of me—of seeking me any more in all the border of Israel, and I have escaped out of his hand.' 2 And David riseth, and passeth over, he and six hundred men who 'are' with him, unto Achish son of Maoch king of Gath; 3 and David dwelleth with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, 'even' David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelitess. 4 And it is declared to Saul that David hath fled to Gath, and he hath not added any more to seek him. 5 And David saith unto Achish, 'If, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes, they give to me a place in one of the cities of the field, and I dwell there, yea, why doth thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?' 6 And Achish giveth to him in that day Ziklag, therefore hath Ziklag been to the kings of Judah till this day. 7 And the number of the days which David hath dwelt in the field of the Philistines 'is' days and four months;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 27:1-7
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.