1 Samuel 27 - Printer Friendly

In 1 Samuel 27, David hides where Saul can't reach him. He's just had another strange interaction with his king. After proving he could have easily killed Saul, he hears Saul's apologies and promises of reconciliation (1 Samuel 26). But he's endured so many attempts on his life that he knows he can't trust Saul's words. David needs to leave the territory Israel holds before Saul catches him (1 Samuel 27:1).

The first time David left Saul, he took the sword of Goliath and fled to Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. Achish's servants convinced Achish it was a bad idea to welcome the Jewish warrior who had killed their greatest champion. David only escaped by pretending to be insane (1 Samuel 21:8–15). David is tired of running from Saul, so he tries hiding in Philistia once again. This time, having watched Saul relentlessly hunt David and his men, Achish takes them in. Even better for David, Saul stops following them (1 Samuel 27:1–4).

Secure in Achish's good graces, David asks for a city where he can take his men and their families, where they won't be a burden on Achish's resources. Achish gives him Ziklag, about twenty miles southwest. David and his people live there peacefully for almost a year and a half (1 Samuel 27:5–7).

At least, that's what it looks like to Achish. David and his men make regular raids against the tribes God had told the Israelites to destroy. They stay even farther southeast, away from Philistine territory, and kill every person so word can't reach Achish. When Achish asks David what they're doing, David tells him they're attacking cities in Judah. Achish is pleased to know Saul's one-time champion can never go home (1 Samuel 27:8–12).

David's deception is more effective than he might have preferred. When the time comes for the Philistines to amass against Israel, Achish brings David and his men with his own army. David claims to be eager to fight for the man who took them in. Fortunately, the other Philistine kings refuse to allow their greatest enemy to fight with them. David and his men return to Ziklag and find the city burned to the ground and their families gone. While they hunt the Amalekites who took their wives and children, Saul and Jonathan die in battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 29—31).

First Samuel 27:1–4 records David finding safety with the enemy. David had fled from Saul to King Achish of Gath before. Achish's servants feared the Israelite who had killed "his ten thousands," and David had to play insane to escape (1 Samuel 21:10–15). Now, Achish knows Saul hates David, and welcomes him, his men, and their families. David is relieved that Saul has stopped chasing them and will ask for an obscure city for his people to settle in (1 Samuel 27:5–7).

First Samuel 27:5–7 describes David ruling over his own people in his own land for the first time. He has found protection for his people from Saul with Achish, king of the Philistine city of Gath. Achish is more impressed with Saul's hatred of David than David's reputation as a warrior, and takes them in. Now, David asks for and Achish gives him a city where David's people can finally rest. They stay there over a year, secretly fighting Israel's enemies while they tell Achish they're fighting Israel (1 Samuel 27:8–12).

First Samuel 27:8–12 shows David's success when finally free to fight Israel's enemies. Since he and his men saved Keilah, they have spent all their time fleeing from Saul and his army (1 Samuel 23:1–14). They've finally found peace with the Philistine king Achish. From the city Achish has given them (1 Samuel 27:1–7), David's troops destroy the tribes God had told Joshua to. When they return, they tell Achish their victims are Israelites in Judah. Achish trusts them so much, he invites them to fight Saul with him. Fortunately, the other Philistine kings don't approve (1 Samuel 29).

David takes his people to safety. Convinced that Saul will eventually kill him, David asks the king of the Philistine city of Gath to provide protection for him, his men, and their families. Achish agrees and eventually gives David the town of Ziklag. From there, David and his men conduct raids on Israel's enemies and bring the king some of the plunder. David tells the king he has been attacking the people of Israel and their allies, and Achish believes the lie, growing to trust David fully. Even better, Saul stops hunting them.

After being hunted by King Saul (1 Samuel 24—26), David finds safety with the Philistines. Saul will never stop trying to kill him, but King Achish of Gath is willing to give David and his people a city of their own. Achish trusts David so much he brings David and his men to fight the Israelites. David goes willingly, but the other Philistine kings refuse to fight with the man who killed so many of them. David's unit returns to find their city burned and their wives and children taken. While they rescue their families, Saul and Jonathan die in battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 29—31).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.