New Living Translation | New Living Translation |
1But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.” | 1But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.” |
2So David took his 600 men and went over and joined Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. | 2So David took his 600 men and went over and joined Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. |
3David and his men and their families settled there with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives along with him—Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow from Carmel. | 3David and his men and their families settled there with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives along with him—Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow from Carmel. |
4Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him. | 4Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him. |
5One day David said to Achish, “If it is all right with you, we would rather live in one of the country towns instead of here in the royal city.” | 5One day David said to Achish, “If it is all right with you, we would rather live in one of the country towns instead of here in the royal city.” |
6So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag (which still belongs to the kings of Judah to this day), | 6So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag (which still belongs to the kings of Judah to this day), |
7and they lived there among the Philistines for a year and four months. | 7and they lived there among the Philistines for a year and four months. |
8David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites—people who had lived near Shur, toward the land of Egypt, since ancient times. | 8David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites—people who had lived near Shur, toward the land of Egypt, since ancient times. |
9David did not leave one person alive in the villages he attacked. He took the sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing before returning home to see King Achish. | 9David did not leave one person alive in the villages he attacked. He took the sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing before returning home to see King Achish. |
10“Where did you make your raid today?” Achish would ask. And David would reply, “Against the south of Judah, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites.” | 10“Where did you make your raid today?” Achish would ask. And David would reply, “Against the south of Judah, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites.” |
11No 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. | 11No 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. |
12Achish believed David and thought to himself, “By now the people of Israel must hate him bitterly. Now he will have to stay here and serve me forever!” | 12Achish believed David and thought to himself, “By now the people of Israel must hate him bitterly. Now he will have to stay here and serve me forever!” |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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