1 Samuel 27:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

NIV: David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.

NASB: The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

CSB: The length of time that David stayed in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.

NLT: and they lived there among the Philistines for a year and four months.

KJV: And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

NKJV: Now the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was one full year and four months.

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).

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.

Accessed 9/19/2025 7:00:43 AM