1 Samuel 27:1

1 Samuel 27:1-7. David's flight to Achish, and residence at Ziklag

1. into the land of the Philistines The result anticipated in 1 Samuel 26:19 has come to pass. David is forced to seek refuge in a heathen land. The circumstances of this flight are entirely different from those related in 1 Samuel 21:10 ff. Then the solitary fugitive, recognised as the slayer of Goliath, narrowly escaped losing his life; now the outlaw leader of a band of stalwart warriors is welcomed as an ally. He entered the king's service as an independent chieftain, like an Italian Condottiere of the middle ages.

Traces of this residence at Gath may be observed in the attachment of Ittai the Gittiteto David (2 Samuel 15:19); and possibly the Gittith, mentioned in the title to Psalms 8, was an instrument or a melody brought from Gath.