Achish
What we know — and how we know it
Where in scripture
1 Samuel1 KingsPsalmsDavid arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
1 Samuel 21:10
The servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David the king of the land? Didn’t they sing to one another about him in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’”
1 Samuel 21:11
David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
1 Samuel 21:12
Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why then have you brought him to me?
1 Samuel 21:14
David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:2
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.
1 Samuel 27:3
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?”
1 Samuel 27:5
Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.
1 Samuel 27:6
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In their own words — 6 recorded sayings
“Then Achish said to his servants, Look! the man is clearly off his head; why have you let him come before me? Are there not enough unbalanced men about me, that you have let this person come and do such tricks before me? is such a man to come into my house?” — 1 Samuel 21:14-15
“And every time Achish said, Where have you been fighting today? David said, Against the South of Judah and the South of the Jerahmeelites and the South of the Kenites.” — 1 Samuel 27:10
“And Achish had belief in what David said, saying, He has made himself hated by all his people Israel, and so he will be my servant for ever.” — 1 Samuel 27:12
“Then the rulers of the Philistines said, What are these Hebrews doing here? And Achish said to the rulers of the Philistines, Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me for a year or two, and I have never seen any wrong in him from the time when he came to me till now?” — 1 Samuel 29:3
“Then Achish sent for David and said to him, By the living Lord, you are upright, and everything you have done with me in the army has been pleasing to me: I have seen no evil in you from the day when you came to me till now: but still, the lords are not pleased with you. So now go back, and go in peace, so that you do not make the lords of the Philistines angry.” — 1 Samuel 29:6-7
“And Achish in answer said, It is true that in my eyes you are good, like an angel of God: but still, the rulers of the Philistines have said, He is not to go up with us to the fight. So get up early in the morning, with the servants of your lord who are with you, and go to the place I have given you, and have no evil design in your heart, for you are good in my eyes; but when there is light enough in the morning, go away.” — 1 Samuel 29:9-10
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).