1
And Daviyd said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Shaul. There is nothing better for me than that escaping, I should escape to the land of the Pelishtim. Then Shaul will despair of seeking me any longer throughout all the border of Yisra’el, and I shall escape from his hand.”
2
And Daviyd rose and crossed over, he and the six hundred ish who were with him, to Akhish son of Maokh, king of Gat.
3
And Daviyd dwelt with Akhish at Gat, he and his men, each ish and his house: Daviyd and his two wives, Achinoam the Yizre’elit, and Avigayil the Karmelit, former ishah of Naval.
4
And it was declared to Shaul that Daviyd had fled to Gat, and he did not continue again to seek him.
5
And Daviyd said to Akhish, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities of the field, and I will dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?”
6
And Akhish gave him Tziqlag on that day. Therefore Tziqlag has belonged to the kings of Yehudah to this day.
7
And the number of days that Daviyd dwelt in the field of the Pelishtim was a year and four months.
8
And Daviyd and his men went up and raided the Geshuri, and the Girzi, and the Amaleqi, for they had inhabited the land from ancient time, as you come toward Shur and as far as the land of Mitzrayim.
9
And Daviyd struck the land and did not leave alive ish or ishah, and took sheep, and oxen, and donkeys, and camels, and garments, and returned and came to Akhish.
10
And Akhish said, “Where have you raided today?” And Daviyd said, “Against the Negev of Yehudah, and against the Negev of the Yerachmeeli, and against the Negev of the Qeini.”
11
And Daviyd did not leave alive ish or ishah to bring to Gat, saying, “Lest they declare concerning us, saying, ‘Thus Daviyd did.’” And thus was his judgment all the days that he dwelt in the field of the Pelishtim.
12
And Akhish trusted in Daviyd, saying, “Making himself a stench, he has surely made himself a stench among his people Yisra’el. Therefore he shall be my servant forever.”