1 Samuel 27 (Listen)
David Flees to the Philistines
27:1 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 So David arose and went 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, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.
5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the number of the 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 made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”
(ESV)
1 Samuel 27 Commentary
In 1 Samuel 27, David decided to escape to the Philistine territory. He went to Achish, king of Gath, taking his 600 men and their families (1 Samuel 27:1-3). When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he stopped searching for him (1 Samuel 27:4). David then asked Achish for a smaller, outlying town to live in, and Achish gave him Ziklag, which remained under Judah’s control (1 Samuel 27:5-6).
David stayed in Philistine territory for a year and four months (1 Samuel 27:7). During this time, David raided the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, leaving no survivors and taking goods like flocks and clothing (1 Samuel 27:8-9). When Achish asked where David had raided, David falsely claimed it was against areas in Israel (1 Samuel 27:10-11). Achish trusted David, believing he had fully alienated himself from Israel and would remain loyal to the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:12).
Weary David
The life of David is not all sunshine and rainbows. Though he was a man after God’s own heart, he was still human. Just like us, he was prone to discouragement, fear, and questionable decisions. Coming off the heels of another confrontation with Saul in 1 Samuel 26, we see David at a low point. The relentless pursuit by Saul has worn him down emotionally and mentally. The promise of kingship, repeatedly affirmed through anointing (1 Sam 16:13), through Jonathan (1 Sam 23:17), and even through Saul himself (1 Sam 24:20), still remains unfulfilled.
After years of hiding and running, David reaches a breaking point. He says to himself, “One of these days I’ll be swept away by Saul. I must escape the land!” This internal dialogue reveals just how weary and uncertain David had become. The man who once stood fearlessly against Goliath now seeks refuge among the enemies of Israel.
And so, David makes the surprising and controversial decision to align himself with Achish, king of Gath. Yes, these were the same Philistines he had once fought against, and yes, this was the very city from which Goliath hailed (1 Samuel 17:4). David took his 600 men and their families and settled in Philistine territory. When Saul hears of it, he stops searching for David.
Going To Gath
Why would King Achish of Gath receive someone like David?
- Achish fully trusts David and believes he has made himself “repulsive to his people Israel” (1 Samuel 27:12). Achish believes that David will be loyal to the Philistines permanently. Essentially, Achish was convinced David had burned his bridges with Israel, making him a reliable ally.
- David brought 600 seasoned warriors plus all of their families. This was most likely over 1,000 people in total. This meant more military strength for Achish.
- Philistine kings often made decisions based on power and advantage, not loyalty or morality. If Achish believed David could be turned into an asset, then being an Israelite wasn’t a disqualifier. His usefulness outweighed his origin.
- And finally, David was deceptive. David actively misled Achish about his actions (1 Samuel 27:10-12), claiming he was raiding southern Israelite territories when he was actually attacking Israel’s enemies. This made Achish think David had truly turned against Israel.
Enemy Territory
David requests a place to live outside the royal city, and Achish grants him the town of Ziklag. This becomes David’s base of operations for the next 16 months. During this time, David embarks on violent military campaigns against the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites. These were long-time enemies of Israel. He leaves no survivors and takes livestock, goods, and clothing back to Achish.
When asked where he raided, David intentionally misled, saying he attacked areas in the Negev belonging to Judah or related groups like the Jerahmeelites and Kenites. His deception is thorough, and he ensures that no one survives to report the truth.
Some scholars suggest that David justified these brutal raids as a continuation of unfinished business from the time of Joshua. There may be a theological case to be made, but the text is silent on God’s approval or disapproval here. Others point to the practicalities: David had men and their families to care for (1 Samuel 27:3), and constant movement was not sustainable. Settling in Ziklag allowed for rest, provision, and security.
“David’s scheme was ingenious and effective. His conscious use of deceit was arguably the lesser of two evils: granted that lying is wrong and to be avoided (cf. Lev 19:11; Col 3:9), in this case David’s deception saved lives and thus fulfilled the Spirit of the Torah. Not only did it enable hundreds of Israelites to avoid a deadly confrontation with Saul, but it also helped Israel fulfill military assignments left undone since the days of Moses.”
The New American Commentary
Still, ethical questions linger. Was David operating out of fear rather than faith? Was deception necessary, or was it a compromise? Achish believes David is his servant (1 Samuel 27:12), which raises a significant question: What will David do when the Philistines go to war against Israel? Will he betray his own people? Will he stand against Saul after all?
David’s dual identity (a servant of Achish on the surface and a loyal Israelite in secret) creates a dramatic tension that will reach a boiling point in the next few chapters. Will David’s plan backfire? Will his true allegiance be revealed? And how will God intervene in this complicated web of politics, war, and survival?
