David Among the Philistines
1 Samuel 27
Weary of fleeing Saul, David takes refuge with Achish king of Gath and is given the city of Ziklag to dwell in, where he raids neighboring peoples while leaving no survivors to report his actions. David deceives Achish into believing he has been raiding Judah, so that Achish trusts him completely and considers him his permanent servant.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonBUT David spoke in his heart, saying, I may one day fall into the hands of Saul. Is it not best for me to make my escape to the land of the Philistines, so that Saul may cease from seeking me in the borders of Israel? So shall I escape out of his hand.
BrentonAnd David said in his heart, Now shall I be one day delivered for death into the hands of Saul; and there is no good thing for me unless I should escape into the land of the Philistines, and Saul should cease from seeking me through every coast of Israel: so I shall escape out of his hand.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, λέγων, νῦν προστεθήσομαι ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ εἰς χεῖρας Σαούλ· καὶ οὐκ ἔστι μοι ἀγαθὸν ἐὰν μὴ σωθῶ εἰς γῆν ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ ἀνῇ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ Σαοὺλ τοῦ ζητεῖν με εἰς πᾶν ὅριον Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ σωθήσομαι ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd David said in his heart: ‘I shall now be swept away 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.’
2
ThomsonSo David arose, and the six hundred men with him, and went to Angchus, son of Ammach, king of Geth.
BrentonSo David arose, and the six hundred men that were with him, and he went to Anchus, son of Ammach, king of Geth.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστη Δαυὶδ καὶ οἱ ἐξακόσιοι ἄνδρες οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Ἀγχοῦς υἱὸν Ἀμμὰχ βασιλέα Γέθ.
KJVAnd David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
JPSAnd David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, unto Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
3
ThomsonAnd David abode with Angchus, both he and his men, every one with his household, and David with his two wives, Achinaam the Jezraelitess, and Abigaia late the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
BrentonAnd David dwelt with Anchus, he and his men, each with his family; and David and both his wives, Achinaam the Jezraelitess, and Abigaia the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάθισε Δαυὶδ μετὰ Ἀγχοῦς, αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ἕκαστος καὶ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ, καὶ Δαυὶδ καὶ ἀμφότεραι αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτοῦ, Ἀχινάαμ Ἰεζραηλίτις καὶ Ἀβιγαία ἡ γυνὴ Νάβαλ τοῦ Καρμηλίου.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.
4
ThomsonAnd when Saul was informed that David had fled to Geth, he did not proceed any more to seek him.
BrentonAnd it was told Saul that David had fled to Geth; and he no longer sought after him.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ Σαοὺλ ὅτι πέφευγε Δαυὶδ εἰς Γὲθ, καὶ οὐ προσέθετο ἔτι ζητεῖν αὐτόν.
KJVAnd it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
JPSAnd it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath; and he sought no more again for him.
5
ThomsonNow David had said to Angchus, If thy servant hath found favour in thy sight, let a place, I pray thee, be given me in one of thy cities, in the country, and I will settle there. For why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
BrentonAnd David said to Anchus, If now thy servant has found grace in thine eyes, let them give me, I pray thee, a place in one of the cities in the country, and I will dwell there: for why does thy servant dwell with thee in a royal city?
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ πρὸς Ἀγχοῦς, εἰ δὴ εὕρηκεν ὁ δοῦλός σου χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου, δότωσαν δή μοι τόπον ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεων τῶν κατʼ ἀγρὸν, καὶ καθήσομαι ἐκεῖ· καὶ ἱνατί κάθηται ὁ δοῦλός σου ἐν πόλει βασιλευομένῃ μετὰ σοῦ;
KJVAnd 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?
JPSAnd David said unto Achish: ‘If now I have found favour in thine eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there; for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?’
6
ThomsonSo he gave him on that day Sekelak; for this cause Sekelak belongeth to the king of Juda to this day.
BrentonAnd he gave him Sekelac in that day: therefore Sekelac came into possession of the king of Judea to this day.
GreekΚαὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τὴν Σεκελάκ· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγενήθη Σεκελὰκ τῷ βασιλεῖ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.
KJVThen Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
JPSThen Achish gave him Ziklag that day; wherefore Ziklag belongeth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
7
ThomsonNow the time that David had dwelt in the country of the Philistines was four months,
BrentonAnd the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was four months.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν ὧν ἐκάθισε Δαυὶδ ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, τέσσαρας μῆνας.
KJVAnd the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
JPSAnd the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
8
Thomsonwhen David went up with his men, and they fell upon all the Geserites, and upon the Amalekites. (Now this country was inhabited by wandering hordes, excepting those who had fixed abodes from Gelampsur to the land of Egypt.)
BrentonAnd David and his men went up, and made an attack on all the Gesirites and on the Amalekites: and behold, the land was inhabited, (even the land from Gelampsur) by those who come from the fortified cities even to the land of Egypt.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέβαινε Δαυὶδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπετίθεντο ἐπὶ πάντα τὸν Γεσιρὶ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀμαληκίτην· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ γῆ κατῳκεῖτο ἀπὸ ἀνηκόντων ἡ ἀπὸ Γελαμψοὺρ τετειχισμένων καὶ ἕως γῆς Αἰγύπτου.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd David and his men went up, and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Gizrites, and the Amalekites; for those were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
9
ThomsonAnd when he smote the land he saved neither man nor woman alive; but he took their flocks, and herds, and asses, and camels, and raiment, and returned, and came to Angchus.
BrentonAnd he smote the land, and saved neither man nor woman alive; and they took flocks, and herds, and asses, and camels, and raiment; and they returned and came to Anchus.
GreekΚαὶ ἔτυπτε τὴν γῆν, καὶ οὐκ ἐζωογόνει ἄνδρα ἢ γυναῖκα· καὶ ἐλάμβανον ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια καὶ ὄνους καὶ καμήλους καὶ ἱματισμὸν, καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς Ἀγχοῦς.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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 he returned, and came to Achish.
10
ThomsonAnd when Angchus said to David, Upon whom have you fallen? David said to Angchus, Towards the south of Judea, and towards the south of Jesmega, and towards the south of Kenezi.
BrentonAnd Anchus said to David, On whom have ye made an attack to-day? And David said to Anchus, On the south of Judea, and on the south of Jesmega, and on the south of the Kenezite.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἀγχοῦς πρὸς Δαυὶδ ἐπὶ τίνα ἐπέθεσθε σήμερον; καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ πρὸς Ἀγχοῦς, κατὰ Νότον τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ κατὰ Νότον Ἰεσμεγὰ καὶ κατὰ Νότον τοῦ Κενεζί.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd Achish said: ‘Whither have ye made a raid to-day?’ And David said: ‘Against the South of Judah, and against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.’
11
ThomsonBut I saved neither man nor woman to bring them to Geth, saying, They must not carry tidings against us to Geth, and say, Such and such things doth David. And this was his custom all the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines.
BrentonAnd I have not saved man or woman alive to bring them to Geth, saying, Lest they carry a report to Geth against us, saying, These things David does. And this was his manner all the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines.
GreekΚαὶ ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα οὐκ ἐζωογόνησα τοῦ εἰσαγαγεῖν εἰς Γὲθ, λέγων, μὴ ἀναγγειλωσιν εἰς Γὲθ καθʼ ἡμῶν, λέγοντες, τάδε Δαυὶδ ποιεῖ· καὶ τόδε τὸ δικαίωμα αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἃς ἐκάθητο Δαυὶδ ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd David left neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying: ‘Lest they should tell on us, saying: So did David, and so hath been his manner all the while he hath dwelt in the country of the Philistines.’
12
ThomsonAnd David was in high confidence with Angchus, who said, He is surely in great disgrace with his people in Israel, therefore he must be my servant forever.
BrentonSo David had the full confidence of Anchus, who said, He is thoroughly disgraced among his people in Israel, and he shall be my servant for ever.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπιστεύθη Δαυὶδ ἐν τῷ Ἀγχοῦς σφόδρα, λέγων, ἤσχυνται αἰσχυνόμενος ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ ἐν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἔσται μοι δοῦλος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
KJVAnd Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
JPSAnd Achish believed David, saying: ‘He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.’