Achish
☩David's First Visit
When David first fled to Achish at Gath after escaping from Saul, he was recognized by the king's servants as the one who had slain tens of thousands of Philistines. Fearing for his safety, David feigned madness—scratching on the doors and letting spittle run down his beard—until Achish dismissed him as a madman unworthy of attention. Psalm 34 was written on this occasion, where Achish is called by the title "Abimelech."
☩David's Second Refuge
Later, when David commanded 600 men, he returned to Achish and was received hospitably. The king gave him the city of Ziklag, where David lived for a year and four months, conducting raids against nomadic tribes while deceiving Achish into believing he attacked Judah. When the Philistines gathered to fight Israel, Achish wanted David to serve as his bodyguard, but the other Philistine lords objected, and David was sent back—providentially spared from fighting against his own people.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Achish," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Achish," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Achish," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).