Achish (king of the Philistines)
Philistine king of Gath
Achish, son of Maacah, was a Philistine king over the city of Gath – one of the five major Philistine city-states. He plays a prominent role in the accounts about David, who twice sought refuge with him while fleeing from King Saul. During the first visit, David was recognized by Achish's servants as an Israelite warrior hero, and David saved himself by pretending to be insane, which caused Achish to send him away. On the second visit, David came with 600 men and their families, and Achish gave them the city of Ziklag to live in. However, David deceived Achish by attacking the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, while telling the king that he had raided the southern regions of Judah. Achish came to trust David so much that he wanted him as his personal bodyguard in the war against Israel, but the other Philistine rulers opposed this. In 1 Kings 2:39 an Achish, son of Maacah, is mentioned as king of Gath during Solomon's reign – it is debated whether this is the same person or a descendant. In the heading of Psalm 34 he is referred to by the Philistine royal title Abimelech.
Familie
Schlüsselereignisse
David's first flight to Achish
David fled to Achish in Gath to escape Saul, but became afraid when Achish's servants recognized him as Israel's warrior hero. David pretended to be insane, and Achish sent him away, criticizing his servants for bringing a 'madman' to him.
10The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take it, if you want it—there is no other here but that one." David said, "There is none like it. Give it to me."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן חֶרֶב֩ גָּלְיָ֨ת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜י אֲשֶׁר־הִכִּ֣יתָ ׀ בְּעֵ֣מֶק הָאֵלָ֗ה הִנֵּה־הִ֞יא לוּטָ֣ה בַשִּׂמְלָה֮ אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאֵפוֹד֒ אִם־אֹתָ֤הּ תִּֽקַּח־לְךָ֙ קָ֔ח כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין אַחֶ֛רֶת זוּלָתָ֖הּ בָּזֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֵ֥ין כָּמ֖וֹהָ תְּנֶ֥נָּה לִּֽי׃
11That day David rose and fled from Saul, and he came to Achish king of Gath.
וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּבְרַ֥ח בַּיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא מִפְּנֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וַיָּבֹ֕א אֶל־אָכִ֖ישׁ מֶ֥לֶךְ גַּֽת׃
12But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sang of in their dances: 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ עַבְדֵ֤י אָכִישׁ֙ אֵלָ֔יו הֲלוֹא־זֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד מֶ֣לֶךְ הָאָ֑רֶץ הֲל֣וֹא לָזֶ֗ה יַעֲנ֤וּ בַמְּחֹלוֹת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ *באלפו **בַּאֲלָפָ֔יו וְדָוִ֖ד *ברבבתו **בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃
13David took these words to heart and became very afraid of Achish king of Gath.
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בִּלְבָב֑וֹ וַיִּרָ֣א מְאֹ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֖י אָכִ֥ישׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־גַּֽת׃
14So he pretended to be out of his mind in their presence and acted like a madman among them, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting his spittle run down his beard.
וַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ אֶת־טַעְמוֹ֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖ל בְּיָדָ֑ם *ויתו **וַיְתָיו֙ עַל־דַּלְת֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיּֽ[m]וֹרֶד רִיר֖וֹ אֶל־זְקָנֽוֹ׃
15Achish said to his servants, "Look at him—the man is insane! Why bring him to me?
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָכִ֖ישׁ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו הִנֵּ֤ה תִרְאוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ לָ֛מָּה תָּבִ֥יאוּ אֹת֖וֹ אֵלָֽי׃
David seeks permanent refuge with Achish
David returned to Achish with 600 men and their families. This time, Achish welcomed him and gave him the town of Ziklag to live in. When Saul heard that David was with Achish, he stopped looking for him.
1David said to himself, "Now, one of these days, I will be swept away by Saul's hand. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in the territory of Israel, and I will slip out of his hand."
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־לִבּ֔וֹ עַתָּ֛ה אֶסָּפֶ֥ה יוֹם־אֶחָ֖ד בְּיַד־שָׁא֑וּל אֵֽין־לִ֨י ט֜וֹב כִּ֣י הִמָּלֵ֥ט אִמָּלֵ֣ט ׀ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וְנוֹאַ֨שׁ מִמֶּ֤נִּי שָׁאוּל֙ לְבַקְשֵׁ֤נִי עוֹד֙ בְּכָל־גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְנִמְלַטְתִּ֖י מִיָּדֽוֹ׃
2So David set out and crossed over, he and the six hundred men with him, to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.
וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֔ד וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר ה֔וּא וְשֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֑וֹ אֶל־אָכִ֥ישׁ בֶּן־מָע֖וֹךְ מֶ֥לֶךְ גַּֽת׃
3David settled with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each with his household — David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow.
וַיֵּשֶׁב֩ דָּוִ֨ד עִם־אָכִ֥ישׁ בְּגַ֛ת ה֥וּא וַאֲנָשָׁ֖יו אִ֣ישׁ וּבֵית֑וֹ דָּוִד֙ וּשְׁתֵּ֣י נָשָׁ֔יו אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔ית וַאֲבִיגַ֥יִל אֵֽשֶׁת־נָבָ֖ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽית׃
4When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he searched for him no longer.
וַיֻּגַּ֣ד לְשָׁא֔וּל כִּֽי־בָרַ֥ח דָּוִ֖ד גַּ֑ת וְלֹֽא־*יוסף **יָסַ֥ף ע֖וֹד לְבַקְשֽׁוֹ׃ ס
5David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let me be given a place in one of the outlying towns, so I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?"
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־אָכִ֗ישׁ אִם־נָא֩ מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ יִתְּנוּ־לִ֣י מָק֗וֹם בְּאַחַ֛ת עָרֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וְאֵ֣שְׁבָה שָּׁ֑ם וְלָ֨מָּה יֵשֵׁ֧ב עַבְדְּךָ֛ בְּעִ֥יר הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ׃
6That day Achish gave him Ziklag; and so Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.
וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ אָכִ֛ישׁ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא אֶת־צִֽקְלָ֑ג לָכֵ֞ן הָיְתָ֤ה צִֽקְלַג֙ לְמַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ פ
7David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.
וַֽיְהִי֙ מִסְפַּ֣ר הַיָּמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־יָשַׁ֥ב דָּוִ֖ד בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים יָמִ֖ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃
David deceives Achish
David carried out raids against the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, but told Achish that he had attacked the southern regions of Judah. Achish fully trusted David and believed he had made himself hated among his own people.
8David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites — for these were the peoples who from ancient times had inhabited the land stretching toward Shur as far as Egypt.
וַיַּ֤עַל דָּוִד֙ וֽ͏ַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֛וּ אֶל־הַגְּשׁוּרִ֥י *והגרזי **וְהַגִּזְרִ֖י וְהָעֲמָלֵקִ֑י כִּ֣י הֵ֜נָּה יֹשְׁב֤וֹת הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מֵֽעוֹלָ֔ם בּוֹאֲךָ֥ שׁ֖וּרָה וְעַד־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
9Whenever David attacked a region, he left neither man nor woman alive; he took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, and then returned to Achish.
וְהִכָּ֤ה דָוִד֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹ֥א יְחַיֶּ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֑ה וְלָקַח֩ צֹ֨אן וּבָקָ֜ר וַחֲמֹרִ֤ים וּגְמַלִּים֙ וּבְגָדִ֔ים וַיָּ֖שָׁב וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־אָכִֽישׁ׃
10When Achish asked, "Where did you raid today?" David would answer, "Against the Negev of Judah," or "Against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites," or "Against the Negev of the Kenites."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָכִ֔ישׁ אַל־פְּשַׁטְתֶּ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד עַל־נֶ֤גֶב יְהוּדָה֙ וְעַל־נֶ֣גֶב הַיַּרְחְמְאֵלִ֔י וְאֶל־נֶ֖גֶב הַקֵּינִֽי׃
11David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring back to Gath, for he thought, "They might report on us and say, 'This is what David did.'" Such was his practice the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.
וְאִ֨ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֜ה לֹֽא־יְחַיֶּ֣ה דָוִ֗ד לְהָבִ֥יא גַת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פֶּן־יַגִּ֥דוּ עָלֵ֖ינוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּֽה־עָשָׂ֤ה דָוִד֙ וְכֹ֣ה מִשְׁפָּט֔וֹ כָּל־הַ֨יָּמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָשַׁ֖ב בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
12So Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself utterly detestable to his own people Israel; he will be my servant for life."
וַיַּאֲמֵ֥ן אָכִ֖ישׁ בְּדָוִ֣ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הַבְאֵ֤שׁ הִבְאִישׁ֙ בְּעַמּ֣וֹ בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהָ֥יָה לִ֖י לְעֶ֥בֶד עוֹלָֽם׃ פ
Achish wants David to join the war against Israel
Achish appointed David as his bodyguard and wanted to take him with him in the war against Israel. However, the other Philistine rulers refused to accept David's participation, and Achish had to send David back to Ziklag with a heavy heart.
1In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war against Israel. Achish said to David, "You know, of course, that you and your men are to march out with me in the army."
וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם וַיִּקְבְּצ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים אֶת־מַֽחֲנֵיהֶם֙ לַצָּבָ֔א לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָכִישׁ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד יָדֹ֣עַ תֵּדַ֗ע כִּ֤י אִתִּי֙ תֵּצֵ֣א בַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה אַתָּ֖ה וַאֲנָשֶֽׁיךָ׃
2David answered Achish, "Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do." Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־אָכִ֔ישׁ לָכֵן֙ אַתָּ֣ה תֵדַ֔ע אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָכִישׁ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד לָכֵ֗ן שֹׁמֵ֧ר לְרֹאשִׁ֛י אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ פ
1The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים אֶת־כָּל־מַחֲנֵיהֶ֖ם אֲפֵ֑קָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל חֹנִ֔ים בַּעַ֖יִן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
2As the Philistine rulers marched past with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men came at the rear with Achish.
וְסַרְנֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ עֹֽבְרִ֔ים לְמֵא֖וֹת וְלַאֲלָפִ֑ים וְדָוִ֣ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו עֹֽ[m]בְרִ֛ים בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֖ה עִם־אָכִֽישׁ׃
3The Philistine commanders asked, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" Achish answered them, "This is David, the servant of Saul king of Israel. He has been with me now for days, even years, and from the day he deserted to me until now I have found no fault in him.
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים מָ֖ה הָעִבְרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל־שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים הֲלֽוֹא־זֶ֨ה דָוִ֜ד עֶ֣בֶד ׀ שָׁא֣וּל מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה אִתִּי֙ זֶ֤ה יָמִים֙ אוֹ־זֶ֣ה שָׁנִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־מָצָ֤אתִי בוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה מִיּ֥וֹם נָפְל֖וֹ עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ פ
4But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and said, "Send the man back. Let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go into battle with us, or he will turn against us in the fighting. How better could he win back his master's favor than with the heads of these men of ours?"
וַיִּקְצְפ֨וּ עָלָ֜יו שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לוֹ֩ שָׂרֵ֨י פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים הָשֵׁ֣ב אֶת־הָאִ֗ישׁ וְיָשֹׁב֙ אֶל־מְקוֹמוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִפְקַדְתּ֣וֹ שָׁ֔ם וְלֹֽא־יֵרֵ֤ד עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֥נוּ לְשָׂטָ֖ן בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וּבַמֶּ֗ה יִתְרַצֶּ֥ה זֶה֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔יו הֲל֕וֹא בְּרָאשֵׁ֖י הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָהֵֽם׃
5Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances: 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?"
הֲלוֹא־זֶ֣ה דָוִ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יַעֲנוּ־ל֛וֹ בַּמְּחֹל֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ בַּֽאֲלָפָ֔יו וְדָוִ֖ד *ברבבתו **בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃ ס
6So Achish called David and said to him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you have been honest, and it would please me to have you march out and back with me in the army, for I have found no wrong in you from the day you came to me until now. But the rulers do not approve of you.
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵ֠לָיו חַי־יְהוָ֞ה כִּי־יָשָׁ֣ר אַתָּ֗ה וְט֣וֹב בְּ֠עֵינַי צֵאתְךָ֨ וּבֹאֲךָ֤ אִתִּי֙ בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה כִּ֠י לֹֽא־מָצָ֤אתִֽי בְךָ֙ רָעָ֔ה מִיּ֛וֹם בֹּאֲךָ֥ אֵלַ֖י עַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וּבְעֵינֵ֥י הַסְּרָנִ֖ים לֹֽא־ט֥וֹב אָֽתָּה׃
7Now go back, and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers."
וְעַתָּ֥ה שׁ֖וּב וְלֵ֣ךְ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם וְלֹֽא־תַעֲשֶׂ֣ה רָ֔ע בְּעֵינֵ֖י סַרְנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ ס
8"But what have I done?" David asked. "What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־אָכִ֗ישׁ כִּ֣י מֶ֤ה עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ וּמַה־מָּצָ֣אתָ בְעַבְדְּךָ֔ מִיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיִ֣יתִי לְפָנֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אָבוֹא֙ וְנִלְחַ֔מְתִּי בְּאֹיְבֵ֖י אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
9Achish answered, "I know you are as pleasing to me as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, 'He must not go up with us into battle.'
וַיַּ֣עַן אָכִישׁ֮ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־דָּוִד֒ יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּ֣י ט֥וֹב אַתָּ֛ה בְּעֵינַ֖י כְּמַלְאַ֣ךְ אֱלֹהִ֑ים אַ֣ךְ שָׂרֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־יַעֲלֶ֥ה עִמָּ֖נוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
10So get up early in the morning, you and your master's servants who came with you; set out at daybreak, as soon as it is light, and go."
וְעַתָּה֙ הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וְעַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ אִתָּ֑ךְ וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּ֣ם בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וְא֥וֹר לָכֶ֖ם וָלֵֽכוּ׃
11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם דָּוִ֜ד ה֤וּא וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת בַּבֹּ֔קֶר לָשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים עָל֥וּ יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ ס
Achish mentioned during Solomon's reign
An Achish, son of Maacah, was king of Gath when two of Shimei's slaves fled there. Shimei went to Gath to retrieve them and thus broke his oath to Solomon. It is debated whether this Achish is the same person as Achish son of Maoch, or if it concerns a descendant.
39But at the end of three years, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, "Your slaves are in Gath."
וַיְהִ֗י מִקֵּץ֙ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וַיִּבְרְח֤וּ שְׁנֵֽי־עֲבָדִים֙ לְשִׁמְעִ֔י אֶל־אָכִ֥ישׁ בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ גַּ֑ת וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לְשִׁמְעִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ בְּגַֽת׃
40So Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to look for his slaves; he went and brought them back from Gath.
וַיָּ֣קָם שִׁמְעִ֗י וַֽיַּחֲבֹשׁ֙ אֶת־חֲמֹר֔וֹ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ גַּ֙תָה֙ אֶל־אָכִ֔ישׁ לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־עֲבָדָ֑יו וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שִׁמְעִ֔י וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־עֲבָדָ֖יו מִגַּֽת׃