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1 Samuel 27

ScriptureDepth's study of 1 Samuel 27

“David said to Achish, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?”

1 Samuel 27:5

David speaks to Achish, asking for a city to dwell in, which initiates his settlement in Philistine territory and allows him to evade Saul.

What 1 Samuel 27 is about

David decides to escape Saul by fleeing to Gath, the land of the Philistines, with his six hundred men (vv. 1-2). In Gath, David lives with Achish, along with his two wives, and the news of David's location reaches Saul, who no longer seeks him (vv. 3-4). David requests a place to live, asking Achish for a city instead of remaining in the royal city (vv. 5-6). Achish gives David the city of Ziklag, where he stays for a year and four months (v. 7). During this time, David raids the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, taking livestock and goods from them (vv. 8-9). When Achish asks about David's raids, David deceives him by claiming he attacked areas in Judah (vv. 10-11). Achish trusts David, believing he has made himself hated by his own people (v. 12).

David's actions lead to Achish's trust, raising questions about loyalty and identity in times of conflict.

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1 Samuel 27 at a glance

  1. 1 Samuel 27:1–2David’s Decision to Flee
  2. 1 Samuel 27:3–4Settling in Gath
  3. 1 Samuel 27:5–6Request for a Place to Live
  4. 1 Samuel 27:7–8David's Raids
  5. 1 Samuel 27:9–11Deception of Achish
  6. 1 Samuel 27:12Achish's Trust in David

Key verse: 1 Samuel 27:5

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

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David’s Decision to Flee 1 Samuel 27:1–2

Verse 1. David said in his heart, “I will now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel. So shall I escape out of his hand.” Verse 2. David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

Settling in Gath 1 Samuel 27:3–4

Verse 3. David lived 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. Verse 4. Saul was told that David had fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.

Request for a Place to Live 1 Samuel 27:5–6

Verse 5. David said to Achish, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” Verse 6. Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.

David's Raids 1 Samuel 27:7–8

Verse 7. The number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. Verse 8. David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for those were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old, on the way to Shur, even to the land of Egypt.

Deception of Achish 1 Samuel 27:9–11

Verse 9. David struck the land, and saved no man or woman alive, and took away the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he returned, and came to Achish. Verse 10. Achish said, “Against whom have you made a raid today?” David said, “Against the South of Judah, against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.” Verse 11. David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying, “Lest they should tell about us, saying, ‘David did this, and this has been his way all the time he has lived in the country of the Philistines.’”

Achish's Trust in David 1 Samuel 27:12

Verse 12. Achish believed David, saying, “He has made his people Israel utterly to abhor him. Therefore he will be my servant forever.”

World English Bible (public domain)

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Main themes in 1 Samuel 27

faith under pressure

In vv. 1-2, David expresses his fear of Saul, saying, 'I will now perish one day by the hand of Saul.' This pressure leads him to seek refuge among the Philistines, a move that indicates both desperation and a lack of faith in God's protection at that moment. The chapter portrays David's struggle as he navigates the threats surrounding him.

deception for survival

David employs deceit to maintain his safety while living with Achish in Gath. In verses 10-11, he lies about his raids, claiming he attacked 'the South of Judah' rather than admitting to attacking the enemies of Israel. This tactic allows him to preserve his standing with Achish while concealing his true actions, which illustrates the moral dilemmas he faces in his desperate situation.

moral complexities

David's actions in vv. 8-11 present moral complexities. He raids the Geshurites and Amalekites without sparing any captives, saying, 'Lest they should tell about us.' This ruthless strategy raises questions about the ethics of his decisions, as he prioritizes survival and deceit over the value of human life, complicating the narrative of his character.

reliance on God

In this chapter, David's reliance on God is notably absent as he turns to the Philistines for safety instead of seeking divine guidance. In verse 4, he seeks refuge with Achish, opting for a pragmatic approach that leads to a temporary sense of security. His choice to rely on human alliances rather than on God illustrates a pivotal moment that foreshadows future challenges in his leadership journey.

Chapter outline

How 1 Samuel 27 unfolds

  1. 1 Samuel 27:1–2 David’s Decision to Flee

    David decides to flee to the land of the Philistines, reasoning that he will perish at Saul's hand if he stays in Israel (v. 1). He takes six hundred men with him to Achish, king of Gath (v. 2).

  2. 1 Samuel 27:3–4 Settling in Gath

    David and his men settle in Gath, living with their households and David’s two wives (v. 3). Upon learning of David's flight, Saul ceases his pursuit of David (v. 4).

  3. 1 Samuel 27:5–6 Request for a Place to Live

    David requests Achish for a place to live outside the royal city, expressing a desire for a more suitable dwelling (v. 5). Achish grants David the city of Ziklag, which becomes associated with Judah (v. 6).

  4. 1 Samuel 27:7–8 David's Raids

    David lived among the Philistines for a year and four months (v. 7). He and his men raided the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, taking from the inhabitants of the land (v. 8).

  5. 1 Samuel 27:9–11 Deception of Achish

    David deceives Achish about the targets of his raids, claiming he has attacked Judah and its allies (vv. 10-11). He ensures that no survivors are left to reveal his true actions in Philistine territory (v. 11).

  6. 1 Samuel 27:12 Achish's Trust in David

    Achish trusts David, believing he has turned against his own people in Israel and will serve Achish indefinitely (v. 12). This trust is based on Achish's perception of David's actions in Philistine lands.

Key verses

  • 1 Samuel 27:5David speaks to Achish, asking for a city to dwell in, which initiates his settlement in Philistine territory and allows him to evade Saul.

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Study questions

Questions for studying 1 Samuel 27

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v2, who does David seek refuge with when he goes to the Philistines?
  2. observeWhat location does Achish offer to David in v6?
  3. interpretDavid's deception in vv. 9-10: why does he choose to mislead Achish about his raids?
  4. interpretAchish's belief in v12: what does it suggest about David's standing with Israel?
  5. applyWhen have you felt the need to deceive to protect yourself, like David in v11?

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1 Samuel 27: frequently asked questions

What is 1 Samuel 27 about?+
David decides to escape Saul by fleeing to Gath, the land of the Philistines, with his six hundred men (vv. 1-2).
What is the key verse in 1 Samuel 27?+
1 Samuel 27:5: “David said to Achish, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?”
What are the main themes of 1 Samuel 27?+
The main themes of 1 Samuel 27 are faith under pressure, deception for survival, moral complexities, reliance on God.

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