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1 Shamu'al 27

1 Shamu'al chapter 27 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.

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27:1

The Flight to Gath and the Ziklag Enclave

And Dawid said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Shaul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Shaul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Yashar'al: so shall I escape out of his hand."

27:2

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

27:3

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

27:4

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

27:5

The Acquisition of Ziklag

And Dawid 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?"

27:6

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

27:7

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

27:8

The Secret Campaigns of the Vanguard

And Dawid 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 Mitzrayim.

27:9

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

27:10

The Deception of the Philistine King

And Achish said, "Whither have ye made a road today?" And Dawid said, "Against the south of Yahudah, and against the south of the Yerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites."

27:11

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

27:12

And Achish believed Dawid, saying, "He hath made his people Yashar'al utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever."