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1 Samuel 27:1

DavidSaul
DoubtFearDiscouragement and depressionFaith
David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

2 So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.

3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.

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BSB
David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
KJV
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.
WEB
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.”
ASV
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 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 shall I escape out of his hand.
DARBY
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 will despair of me to seek me any more within all the limits of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.
BLB
And David said in his heart, “Now I will be swept away one day by the hand of Saul. [There is] nothing for me better than that I diligently escape to the land of the Philistines. And Saul will despair of me to seek me anymore in all the border of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”
ÅB
Men David tenkte ved seg selv: Engang kommer jeg nå allikevel til å miste livet for Sauls hånd; jeg har ikke noe godt i vente. Jeg vil undfly til filistrenes land; så vil Saul holde opp med å lete etter meg i hele Israels land, og jeg slipper ut av hans hånd.
OTB
Da sa David til seg selv, "Nå vil jeg en dag omkomme ved Sauls hånd. Det er ikke noe bedre for meg enn å flykte til filistrenes land, så Saul vil gi opp å lete etter meg innenfor Israels grenser, og jeg vil unnslippe hans hånd."
B1930
Men David tenkte ved sig selv: Engang kommer jeg nu allikevel til å miste livet for Sauls hånd; jeg har ikke noget godt i vente. Jeg vil undfly til filistrenes land; så vil Saul holde op med å lete efter mig i hele Israels land, og jeg slipper ut av hans hånd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 40:27–31

    Why do you say, O Jacob, and why do you assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God”?

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  • Isaiah 51:12

    “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?

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  • 1 Samuel 23:17

    saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”

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  • 1 Samuel 28:1–2

    Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”

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  • 1 Samuel 16:13

    So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

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  • 1 Samuel 27:10–11

    who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”

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  • 1 Samuel 21:10–15

    That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

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  • Isaiah 30:15–16

    For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence— but you were not willing.”

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