1 Samuel 27:1

And David said in his heart: “At some time, I will one day fall into the hands of Saul. Is it not better if I flee, and be saved in the land of the Philistines, so that Saul may despair and cease to seek me in all the parts of Israel? Therefore, I will flee away from his hands.”

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

In Context

2And David rose up and went away, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish, the son of Maoch, the king of Gath.

Read all of 1 Samuel 27

Cross References

Numbers 14:3“If only we had died in Egypt,” and, “If only we would perish in this vast wilderness,” and, “May the Lord not lead us into this land, lest we fall by the sword, and our wives, as well as our children, be led away as captives. Is it not better to return to Egypt?”

1 Samuel 16:13Therefore, Samuel took the horn of oil, and he anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord was guiding David from that day and thereafter. And Samuel rose up, and he went away to Ramah.

1 Samuel 21:10And so, David rose up, and he fled on that day from the face of Saul. And he went to Achish, the king of Gath.

1 Samuel 22:5And the prophet Gad said to David: “Do not choose to stay in the stronghold. Set out and go into the land of Judah.” And so, David set out, and he went into the forest of Hereth.

1 Samuel 25:30Therefore, when the Lord will have done for you, my lord, all the good that he has spoken about you, and when he will have appointed you as leader over Israel,

1 Samuel 28:1Now it happened that, in those days, the Philistines gathered together their troops, so that they might be prepared for war against Israel. And Achish said to David, “I know now, certainly, that you will go out with me to war, you and your men.”

Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 27:1

David was a man after God's own heart, and yet he had his faults, which are recorded, not for our imitation, but for our admonition; witness the story of this chapter, in which, though, I. We find, to his praise, that he prudently took care of his own safety and his family's ( ver. 2-4 ) and valiantly fought Israel's battles against the Canaanites ( ver. 8-9 ), yet, II. We find, to his dishonour, 1. That he began to despair of his deliverance, ver. 1 . 2. That he deserted his own country, and went to dwell in the… Read the whole commentary →

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