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The people of Ziph betrayed David’s whereabouts to
King Saul, but David seized the initiative when he infiltrated the
king’s camp and took Saul’s spear and water jug while he was
sleeping. At this point in his life David realized that he would
never experience peace living in Israel while Saul was still alive
and so he decided to find a permanent place among the Philistines.
King Achish gave him the city of Ziklag in southern Judah which he
and his men used as a base of operations for plundering the people
living in the region and they became cold-blooded murders to conceal
their raiding activities. In time the Philistines decided to attack
King Saul. David and his men volunteered to join the Philistine army
and fight against their own people but the Philistine princes did
not trust them. Upon returning to Ziklag, they discovered the
Amalekites had burned the city and taken their families. While David
and his men were occupied, Saul and the army of Israel were
massacred by the Philistines in central Israel. The men of Judah
realized they needed a seasoned leader to keep the Philistines at
bay and they made David king of Judah despite his reputation. |
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