Achish אָכִישׁ
Philistine king of Gath, gave refuge to David
Who is Achish in the Bible?
Achish was a Philistine king of Gath who played a significant role in David's life during his years as a fugitive from King Saul. When David first fled to Gath seeking protection, he feigned madness to avoid being recognized as a threat, which prompted Achish to dismiss him (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Years later, David returned to Achish with 600 men and was granted the town of Ziklag as a base, though David deceived the king about his military activities in the region (1 Samuel 27:1-12). Achish's interactions with David reveal a complex dynamic of trust and suspicion, ultimately highlighting David's cunning survival tactics and the fragile alliances of the era.
Biography
Achish, also known as Abimelech, was the Philistine king of Gath during the time of King Saul and King David. When David fled from Saul, he sought refuge in Gath, pretending to be insane to avoid being perceived as a threat (1Sa.21.10-15). Achish's servants recognized David as the celebrated Israelite warrior, but David's act of insanity convinced Achish to dismiss him (1Sa.21.11-15).
Later, when David was again fleeing from Saul, he returned to Achish in Gath, this time with a group of 600 men (1Sa.27.1-4). Achish granted David and his men the town of Ziklag as a base (1Sa.27.5-6). David and his men raided the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, but deceived Achish into believing that they were raiding the Israelites and their allies (1Sa.27.8-12).
When the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel, Achish brought David and his men with him (1Sa.28.1-2). However, the Philistine commanders objected to David's presence, fearing that he might turn against them in battle (1Sa.29.1-5). Achish, trusting in David's loyalty, defended him, but ultimately sent him back to Ziklag (1Sa.29.6-11).
After David became king, some of his servants fled to Achish in Gath (1Ki.2.39-40), indicating that David maintained a relationship with Achish even after becoming king.
Psalm 34 is attributed to David when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech (Achish), who drove him away (Psalm 1Ki.34.1). The psalm expresses David's trust in God and his deliverance from fear and trouble.
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In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 1 with study content1 Samuel 5 verses
- 1 Samuel 21:10
"That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath."
- 1 Samuel 21:11
"But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”"
- 1 Samuel 21:12
"Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath."
- 1 Samuel 21:14
"Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you can see that the man is insane! Why have you brought him to me?"
- 1 Samuel 27:2
"So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath."
1 Kings 2 verses
- 1 Kings 2:39
"After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”"
- 1 Kings 2:40
"So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath."
Psalms 1 verse
- Psalms 34:1
"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אָכִישׁ |
| Named | Hebrew | אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ |
Achish
ought the protection of Achish when he first fled from Saul, and just after his visit to Nob (1Sa 21:10-15). Fearing rough treatment or betrayal by Achish, he feigned madness. But this made him unwelcome, whereupon he fled to the Cave of Adullam (1Sa 22:1). Later in his fugitive period David returned to Gath to be hospitably received by Achish (1Sa 27:1 ff), who gave him the town of Ziklag for his home. A year later, when the Philistines invaded the land of Israel, in the campaign which ended so disastrously for Saul (1Sa 31), Achish wished David to participate (1Sa 28:1-2), but the lords of the Philistines objected so strenuously, when they found him and his men with the forces of Achish, that Achish was compelled to send them back. Achish must have been a young man at this time, for he was still ruling forty years later at the beginning of Solomon's reign (1Ki 2:39). He is mentioned as Abimelech in the title of Ps 34. See ABIMELECH.
Edward Mack
ak'-i-tob: Same as Ahitob. Used in 1 Esdras 8:2; compare 2 Esdras 1:1 the King James Version. See AHITUB 3.
ak'-me-tha (<ref osisRef="Bible: