Achish

Achish, also referred to as Abimelech, was the Philistine king of Gath who granted refuge to David when he fled from King Saul, but later dismissed him due to the suspicion of his servants.

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.

The king with whom David sought refuge when he fled from Saul (1 Sam. 21:10-15). He is called Abimelech in the superscription of Ps. 34. It was probably this same king to whom David a second time repaired at the head of a band of 600 warriors, and who assigned him Ziklag, whence he carried on war against the surrounding tribes (1 Sam. 27:5-12). Achish had great confidence in the valour and fidelity of David (1 Sam. 28:1, 2), but at the instigation of his courtiers did not permit him to go up to battle along with the Philistine hosts (1 Sam. 29:2-11). David remained with Achish a year and four months.