1 Samuel 27:2 kjv
And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:2 nkjv
Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:2 niv
So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:2 esv
So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:2 nlt
So David took his 600 men and went over and joined Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 27:1 | "Then David said in his heart, 'Now I shall perish...'" | David's despair driving the move |
| 1 Sam 21:10-15 | "And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish..." | David's previous flight to Achish and feigned madness |
| 1 Sam 22:2 | "And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt..." | Formation of David's 600 men |
| 1 Sam 20:1 | "Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan..." | Ongoing flight from Saul's relentless pursuit |
| 1 Sam 23:14 | "And David remained in the wilderness in strongholds... Saul sought him continually..." | Saul's continuous pursuit |
| 1 Sam 24:14 | "After whom has the king of Israel come out? After a dead dog? After a fleabone?" | David's feeling like prey to Saul |
| Gen 12:10 | "Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt..." | Fleeing to foreign lands out of necessity/fear |
| Ps 56:1-13 | "To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath." | Psalm connected to David's Gath experience, reflecting trust despite danger |
| Ps 118:8-9 | "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." | Contrast to David's trust in a Philistine king |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart... and he will make straight your paths." | Implied lapse in full reliance on God for David |
| Judg 1:18 | "Judah also captured Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory." | Mention of Philistine cities |
| Josh 13:3 | "...the five lords of the Philistines: the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites..." | Gath as one of the major Philistine cities |
| 1 Sam 17:4 | "There came out from the camps of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath..." | Gath, the home of Goliath, whom David killed |
| 2 Sam 5:17-25 | "When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to search for David..." | David, now king, fighting Philistines whom he once sought refuge with |
| 2 Sam 8:1 | "After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines." | David's later conquest over Philistines, including Gath |
| Isa 2:22 | "Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?" | Emphasizes reliance on God, not human alliances |
| Jer 17:5 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man...'" | Caution against putting trust in human means or rulers |
| Gal 6:8 | "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption..." | A potential spiritual consequence of carnal reasoning |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." | God's sovereignty working even through David's questionable decision |
| Heb 11:32-34 | "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David..." | David included among the heroes of faith despite his flaws |
1 Samuel 27 verses
1 Samuel 27 2 Meaning
David, along with his loyal six hundred followers, relocated to the Philistine city of Gath, placing himself under the protection of its king, Achish, son of Maoch. This move was a direct consequence of David's despair and his belief that Saul would eventually kill him.
1 Samuel 27 2 Context
Chapter 27 opens with David's desperate resolve (v.1) that he would eventually "perish by the hand of Saul." This deep fear, after years of relentless pursuit by King Saul, drives his decision to seek refuge in an unlikely and morally complex place: the land of the Philistines, Israel's sworn enemies. This verse, therefore, marks a pivotal moment where David chooses pragmatic self-preservation over continuous reliance on the Lord's miraculous deliverance within Israelite territory. Historically, Gath was one of the five major Philistine city-states, famously the hometown of Goliath. David had previously sought refuge there in 1 Samuel 21, where he had to feign madness to escape detection and probable death. His return signifies the extreme nature of his perceived predicament, gambling on Achish's hospitality or a lack of strong memory. The 600 men accompanying David represent his hardened core of loyal followers, comprising those "in distress, in debt, and discontented" who had rallied to him at Adullam (1 Sam 22:2), embodying their steadfast loyalty despite David's perilous choices.
1 Samuel 27 2 Word analysis
- "So David arose": The Hebrew "קוּם" (qum) means to stand up, but often implies to "prepare for action," "set out," or "commence a journey." It indicates a deliberate, decisive, and initiated move on David's part. This was not a hesitant retreat but an active, calculated relocation.
- "and went over": The Hebrew "עָבַר" (avar) means to cross over, pass through. Here it signifies crossing a geographical and cultural boundary from Israelite territory (even if in exile) into Philistine land. It highlights a clear and significant transition, moving from danger within the promised land to a different kind of danger outside it.
- "with the six hundred men who were with him": This phrase emphasizes David's established leadership and the unwavering loyalty of his committed followers. This group, having formed in desperation (1 Sam 22:2), had grown into a formidable and trusted force, essential for David's survival and future.
- "to Achish": This specific Philistine king's name (Hebrew: אָכִישׁ - Akhish) underscores the direct and intentional alliance David was seeking. Achish was not an unknown entity to David, as David had previously sought refuge from him in 1 Sam 21. His willingness to receive David this time implies a calculation on Achish's part to use David against Saul.
- "the son of Maoch": This genealogical detail provides specificity and anchors Achish in a Philistine lineage, making him a distinct historical figure. It highlights the patriarchal naming conventions of the time.
- "king of Gath": Gath (Hebrew: גַּת - Gath) was one of the five major Philistine city-states (alongside Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron). Its identification confirms David's entry into enemy territory and specifically highlights the irony of taking refuge in the very city that produced Goliath, the giant David had famously defeated. The title "king" indicates Achish's authority and ability to offer asylum.
- "David arose and went over... to Achish... king of Gath": This sequence of actions denotes a deliberate and strategic shift in David's life. He wasn't fleeing randomly but sought out a specific powerful ruler in an enemy land, making a conscious choice to put himself under Philistine authority out of perceived necessity.
- "David... with the six hundred men": This combination stresses David's role as a military leader and his command over a significant fighting force. These men were his strength, his core support, and an asset that made him valuable to Achish. Their inclusion signifies the seriousness and scale of David's migration.
1 Samuel 27 2 Bonus section
- David's choice to go to Gath reflects a short-sighted and humanly rational decision rather than one based on consulting the Lord, which had been his pattern in many previous crises (e.g., 1 Sam 23:2, 10-12; 30:8). This highlights that even heroes of faith can experience moments of spiritual lapse when overwhelmed by circumstances.
- The narrative does not overtly condemn David's action in this chapter, but the subsequent events (lying to Achish, raiding non-Israelite towns, pretending to raid Judah) subtly demonstrate the ethical entanglements and spiritual dangers that arise from operating outside direct divine guidance and relying on worldly alliances.
- Achish's acceptance of David and his men demonstrates Philistine strategic thinking; he viewed David as a disaffected Israelite asset who could weaken Saul's kingdom. He mistakenly believed David would be "my servant forever" (1 Sam 27:12). This foreshadows God's ironic use of an enemy to protect His anointed, even through David's flawed choice.
- The approximately 16 months (1 Sam 27:7) David spent in Philistine territory marks a unique period of "wilderness living" for David, not just geographically but morally. It provided a sanctuary from Saul, but at a cost.
1 Samuel 27 2 Commentary
This verse records David's fateful decision to flee into the land of the Philistines and seek asylum with Achish, king of Gath. Driven by human fear and a pragmatic assessment that he would eventually be captured and killed by Saul, David seemingly deviated from his consistent reliance on the Lord for deliverance. While understandable from a human perspective given Saul's relentless pursuit, this move represented a significant lapse in David's faith at this point in his journey. The act of placing himself and his loyal Israelite warriors under the authority of an enemy king was fraught with spiritual and moral compromise. This desperate choice, while ensuring his temporary safety from Saul, would lead David into an ethically challenging period of deceit and pseudo-service to a pagan ruler, forcing him to feign raids and misdirect Achish. Nevertheless, God's providential hand continued to guide and protect David, preventing him from directly fighting against Israel (1 Sam 29) and ultimately preserving him for his destined kingship, showcasing divine faithfulness even amidst human weakness.