1 Samuel 27:1-31

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 Samuel 27:1 David and his men finally gain some stability by serving the Philistine king Achish of Gath. David pretends to be loyal to Achish by attacking various non-Israelite peoples in the area while giving the impression that he is attacking Israel itself (1 Samuel 27:8). When the Philistines prepare to attack Saul’s army, however, it seems that David is in danger of becoming an enemy of his own people. But the Philistine leaders do not trust him in battle, so he and his men go back to their city of Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1). On arrival, they find that Ziklag has been destroyed by the Amalekites. David manages to pursue and destroy the raiders and gain much spoil, which he shares with the cities of Judah. Meanwhile in ch. 1 Samuel 28:1, as the Philistines prepare to invade, Saul seeks advice from the deceased Samuel through divination but receives only a prophecy of his own death.