1 Samuel 27: David Among the Philistines

David said in his heart that he would perish one day by Saul's hand, so he went with his six hundred men to Achish king of Gath. Saul stopped looking for him. Achish gave David the town of Ziklag, and David lived in Philistine country a year and four months. David raided Israel's old enemies, but told Achish he had raided parts of Judah. Achish believed David and thought he would be his servant forever.

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Read 1 Samuel 27

World English Bible · 12 verses

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 I will escape out of his hand.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped looking for him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ The number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Achish believed David, saying, “He has made his people Israel utterly to abhor him. Therefore he will be my servant forever.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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1 Samuel 27 · Preschool

Ziklag

Name Date

Color the little town of Ziklag where David lived!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.”

1 Samuel 27:6 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: David was tired of running from Saul. He moved to a town called Ziklag. Even when we are tired and scared, God is still with us.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

1 Samuel 27 · Grade 4

A Season of Compromise

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 27 begins with David speaking to himself, not to God. He said in his heart, I will now perish one day by the hand of Saul. Unlike earlier chapters, there is no mention of David inquiring of Yahweh. Fear drove him into the land of Israel's enemies.

The plan worked on the surface. Saul stopped hunting him, and Achish gave him Ziklag. David's men and their families had a home. Yet David lived a double life. He raided the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, ancient enemies of Israel.

When Achish asked about the raids, David said he had attacked the South of Judah. To keep his secret, David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring to Gath, so that no one could tell Achish what he had done. Achish believed David and thought David's own people would hate him. The chapter shows how fear can lead even a faithful person into deception.

Show What You Know

Who did David speak to at the start of the chapter?
What is missing compared to earlier chapters?
What kind of life did David live?
What does the chapter show about fear?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

GathZiklagAchishDavid

Chapter 27 begins with speaking to himself, not to God.
Saul stopped hunting him, and Achish gave him .
When asked about the raids, David said he had attacked the South of Judah.
To keep his secret, David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring to , so that no one could tell Achish what he had done.

Think About It

What happens when we make plans out of fear instead of asking God?
Why does the Bible tell us about David's deception?

Memory Verse

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 I will escape out of his hand.”

1 Samuel 27:1 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being with me wherever I go. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can a friend help you when you feel like giving up?
How can fear lead us to make poor choices?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

1 Samuel 27 · Grade 5

Speaking in His Heart

Name Date

Read and Think

After the high point of chapter 26, chapter 27 marks a turn. David said in his heart, I will now perish one day by the hand of Saul. These are the words of a weary man reasoning alone. Despite God's promises and Jonathan's assurance, David concluded that there was nothing better for him than to escape into the land of the Philistines. Notably, the narrator records no inquiry of Yahweh.

Outwardly, the move succeeded. Saul stopped looking for him. Achish granted him Ziklag, which, the narrator notes, belongs to the kings of Judah to this day. For a year and four months David's band and their households lived among the Philistines.

But safety came at a moral price. David raided the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, and he left no one alive, so that no one could report to Achish what he had done. He then told Achish he had raided the South of Judah. Achish concluded that David had made his people Israel utterly abhor him and would be his servant forever. The anointed future king was living a lie in enemy territory, and the next chapters will show the danger of this compromise.

Show What You Know

What kind of man speaks in 27:1?
What does the narrator not record?
Why did David leave no one alive?
What did Achish conclude?

Crossword

Across

The city where Achish was king (27:2)
The town Achish gave David (27:6)
David lived there a full year and four ____ (27:7).

Down

The king who believed David (27:12)
David said in his ____, I will now perish (27:1).

Think About It

How can weariness lead us to forget God's promises?
What compromises might seem to make life easier but cost us our integrity?

Memory Verse

1 Samuel 27:1 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being with me wherever I go. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

When you fail, how can you remember that God stays faithful?
Where can you find strength when you feel worn out?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All 1 Samuel chapters · All books

1 Samuel 27: David Among the Philistines

Read 1 Samuel 27

Worksheets

Ziklag

Prayer

Take It Home

A New Town

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

David Moves Away

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

David Among the Philistines

Prayer

Take It Home

Living Far Away

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

A Year in Ziklag

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

David Among the Philistines

Prayer

Take It Home

A Season of Compromise

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Speaking in His Heart

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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