1 Samuel 27:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, "They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’ " And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.

NASB: And David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring to Gath, saying, 'Otherwise they will tell about us, saying, ‘This is what David has done, and this has been his practice all the time that he has lived in the country of the Philistines.’?'

CSB: David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, "Or they will inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’" This was David’s custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory.

NLT: No one was left alive to come to Gath and tell where he had really been. This happened again and again while he was living among the Philistines.

KJV: And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

NKJV: David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’ ” And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.

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.