Bible Chapter Summary
1 Samuel 27 Summary
David Dwells with the Philistines
David decides he will perish by Saul's hand and flees with six hundred men to Achish king of Gath, bringing his two wives Ahinoam and Abigail. Achish grants him the city of Ziklag. For a year and four months, David raids the Geshurites, Gezrites, and Amalekites, leaving no survivors lest they inform against him, and Achish believes David has turned against Israel.
Key themes
Key verses
1 Samuel 27:1
“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.”
1 Samuel 27:8-9
“And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.”
1 Samuel 27:11
“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.”
1 Samuel 27:12
“And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.”
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