1 Samuel 27

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.

David felt a deep fear within him, thinking, "Saul will surely kill me one day. My best option is to flee quickly to Philistine territory. Saul will lose hope of finding me in Israel and I'll finally be free from his pursuit."

And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

With determination in his heart, David led his band of six hundred men across the land, towards Achish, the son of Maoch, the ruler of Gath.

And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.

David made his home in Gath with Achish, along with his men and their families. David, too, was there with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel, who was once married to Nabal.

And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.

When Saul heard that David had escaped to Gath, he finally stopped hunting him.

And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?

David pleaded with Achish, "If you now favor me, please grant me a small place in a country town to live. Why should I, your humble servant, impose on you in your royal city?"

Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

On that day, Achish gifted him Ziklag. Hence, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since.

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

David lived among the Philistines for a long, lonely year and four months.

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.

David and his men bravely marched, attacking the Geshurites, Gezrites, and Amalekites. These ancient nations once owned the land stretching from Shur to Egypt.

And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

David conquered the land, leaving neither man nor woman alive. He claimed the sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and clothes, then returned to Achish.

And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

Achish asked, "Where did you raid today?" David replied, "Against the south of Judah," or "the south of the Jerahmeelites," or "the south of the Kenites."

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.

David spared no one, fearing they might betray his actions to Gath. He didn't want his tactics known while living in Philistine territory.

And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

Achish trusted David, thinking, "David has completely upset his own people, Israel. So, he will always serve me."