So, David and his
600 men went to Gath, where king Achish ruled. David brought his men, their
families, and his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail (Nabal’s widow). Word spread to
Saul that David now resided in Gath, land of king Achish, so he stopped trying to hunt after him.
David went to
king Achish and asked, “If it’s okay with you, may I have a home in some town in the
country to live in instead of staying in this royal city with you since I am
only your servant? So, king Achish gave him the town of Ziklag. David moved there and
stayed there for a year and four months. He was pretending loyalty to king Achish so
he, his wives, and his men could safely hide from Saul.
During David's stay
at Ziklag many others aside of his 600 men joined him. There were men from each
and every tribe, even the tribe of Benjamin (Saul's blood) and some even crossed
the Jordan in the spring season when it overflows it's banks to come to David
and help him.
KING ACHISH OF GATH VERSES WITH KING ACHISH OF GATH TRUTH AND
KING ACHISH OF GATH
EXPLANATION
Don't forget now,
Israel and the Philistines were enemies.
While David was
living in Philistine territory, he wasn't only busy hiding from Saul, but why
not take care of some of the Philistines at the same time and secure the kingdom
of Israel a little bit more for when all this business with Saul was over and
done with? After all, the Lord DID anoint him to be the next king. So, David and
his men invaded the Geshurites, Gezrites, and the Amalekites. The nations David
destroyed were a threat and danger to Israel, his home country. From ancient
times, those nations had lived in that land from Shur to Egypt. David didn’t
leave one person alive and took their sheep, oxen, donkey, camels, and clothes
and returned to see king Achish of Gath.
KING ACHISH OF GATH STORY OF KING ACHISH OF GATH EVENTS AND KING ACHISH OF GATH
SUMMARY
Achish asked,
“Where did you invade today?” Now, don't forget, Achish thinks that David is on
the Philistines "side" now, since he's Saul's enemy, but nothing could be
further from the truth. David responded, “Against the south of Judah, and
against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.”
The places he told Achish that he invaded were his own people (Israelites). So,
Achish thought David was invading and destroying his own people. That’s why
David had to kill utterly everyone there, so the truth wouldn’t get back to Achish of
where he was and what he was really doing. David didn’t leave one person alive
to come back to Gath and tell that he was really invading Philistine cities.
This happened the entire time David lived in Philistine territory.
Achish believed
David and said to himself, “He's really made his people in Israel hate him so
much, that he'll be my servant forever.”
Next time we share
Daily Bread, we'll see what Saul is up to ... You won't believe it! Hurry Back!
