Achish

A´chish (called Abimelech in the title of Psalms 34), the Philistine king of Gath, with whom David twice sought refuge when he fled from Saul (1Sa 21:10-15; 1Sa 27:1-3). The first time David was in imminent danger; for he was recognized and spoken of by the officers of the court as one whose glory had been won at the cost of the Philistines. This talk filled David with such alarm that he feigned himself mad when introduced to the notice of Achish, who, seeing him ’scrabbling upon the doors of the gate, and letting his spittle fall down upon his beard,’ rebuked his people sharply for bringing him to his presence, asking, ’Have I need of madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?’ After this David lost no time in quitting the territories of Gath. About four years after, when the character and position of David became better known, and when he was at the head of not less than 600 resolute adherents, he again repaired with his troop to King Achish, who received him in a truly royal spirit, and treated him with a generous confidence, of which David took perhaps rather more advantage than was creditable to him [DAVID].

King of Gath, a city of the Philistines, to whom David twice fled for protection from Saul. On the first occasion, being recognized by the king’s officers, and thinking his life in danger, he feigned madness, and by this device escaped, {\cf11 \ul 1Sa 21:10}. Several years after, he returned with a band of 600 men, and was welcomed by Achish as an enemy of Saul and of Israel. Achish gave him Ziklag for a residence; and being deceived as to the views and operations of David, expected his assistance in a war with Israel, but was persuaded by his officers to send him home to Ziklag, {\cf11 \ul 1Sa 27:1--}; {\cf11 \ul 1Sa 29:11}.\PAR

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A’chish. (angry). A Philistine king of Gath, who in the title of the 34th Psalm, Psalms 34, is called Abimelech. David twice found a refuge with him when he fled from Saul. (B.C. 1061). On the first occasion he was alarmed for his safety, feigned madness, and was sent away.

King of Gath, son of Maoch; called Abimelech, i.e., not merely a king, but also son of a king in the title to Psalm 34: See ABIMELECH for the seeming discrepancy with 1Sa 21:10-13; 1Sa 27:2. Twice David fled to him. On the first occasion, being recognized as the conqueror of the Philistines, he in fear reigned madness (as the Roman L. Junins Brutus did: Livy, 1:56), and so was let escape to the cave of Adullam. On the second he stayed at Gath, with 600 men, a year and four months, having had Ziklag assigned to him.

The unbelieving propensity to calculate probabilities, instead of trusting implicitly to God, misleads even believers into self sought positions of great spiritual danger. "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul, there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines," said David. This false step on his part necessitated gross lying to the trustful Philistine king (1Sa 27:1; 1Sa 27:8-12). He finally escaped, only by God’s undeserved providential interposition, from having to march with Achish against his own countrymen (1 Samuel 28; 29). Achish, or his son, is again mentioned (1Ki 2:40) as the receiver of Shimei when he left Jerusalem contrary to Solomon’s command.

(Heb. Akish’, אָכַישׁ, perhaps angry; Sept. Α᾿κχίς v. r. Α᾿γχοῦς), a name which, as it is found applied to two kings of Gath, was perhaps only a general title of royalty, like “Abimelech” (q.v.), another Philistine kingly name, with which, indeed, it is interchanged in the title of Psa 34:1-22.

1. A Philistine king of Gath, with whom David sought refuge from Saul (1Sa 21:10-15). By this act he incurred imminent danger; for he was recognised and spoken of by the officers of the court as one whose glory had been won at the cost of the Philistines. This filled David with such alarm that he feigned himself mad when introduced to the notice of Achish, who, seeing him “scrabbling upon the doors of the gate, and letting his spittle fall down upon his beard,” rebuked his people sharply for bringing him to his presence, asking, “Have I need of madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?” B.C. 1061. After this David lost no time in quitting the territories of Gath (see Kitto’s Daily Bible Illust. in loc.). This prince is elsewhere called ABIMELECH SEE ABIMELECH (Psa 34:1-22, title), possibly a corruption for “Achish the king” (אָכַישׁ מֶלֶךְ). David’s conduct on this occasion has been illustrated by the similar proceeding of some other great men, who feigned themselves mad in difficult circumstances — as Ulysses (Cic. Off. 3, 26; Hygin. f. 95, Schol. ad Lycophr. 818), the astronomer Meton (AElian, Hist. 13, 12), L. Junius Brutus (Liv. 1, 56; Dion. Hal. 4:68), and the Arabian king Bacha (Schultens, Anth. Vet. Hamasa, p. 535). See MAD.

The same Philistine king of Gath is probably meant by Achish, the son of Maoch, to whom, some time afterward, when the character and position of David became better known, and when he was at the head of not less than 600 resolute adherents, he again repaired with his troop, and by whom he was received in a truly royal spirit, and treated with a generous confidence (1Sa 27:1-4), of which David took rather more advantage than was creditable to him by making excursions from the city of Ziklag, which had been assigned him, against the neighboring nomades, under pretense of carrying on depredations upon Judah (1Sa 27:5-12), B.C. 1054. In the final conflict with Saul, although the confidence of Achish remained so strong in David that he proposed to appoint him captain of his body-guard, the courtiers revived the old reminiscences against him with such force that the king was compelled to give him leave of absence — a circumstance that spared David a participation in the fatal battle (1Sa 28:1-2; 1Sa 29:2-11), B.C. 1053. SEE DAVID.

2. Another king of Gath, the son of Maachah, to whom the two servants of Shimei fled, and thereby occasioned their master the journey which cost him life (1Ki 2:39-40), B.C. cir. 1012.

Achish (â’kish), angry or serpent charmer. A Philistine king at Gath. David fled twice to him. The first time he was in some danger, from being recognized as one who had distinguished himself against the Philistines; he therefore feigned madness. 1Sa 21:10-15. The second time Achish treated David kindly, gave him Ziklag, and took him to the campaign against Saul, but was persuaded by his officers to send him home again. 1Sa 27:1-12; 1Sa 28:1-2; 1Sa 29:1-11. At a later period Shimei went to Achish in pursuit of his servants; but it is doubtful whether this was the same king. 1Ki 2:39-40. In the title of Psa 34:1-22 he is called Abimelech.

[A’chish]

1. The Philistine king of Gath with whom David twice took shelter from Saul. The first time the servants of Achish reminded him that of David it had been said that he had slain his ten thousands. When David heard this he was afraid and feigned himself mad, and Achish sent him away. 1Sa 21:10-15. Psalm 34 was composed on this occasion, as we learn from its heading, in which Achish is called Abimelech. This has given occasion for critics to doubt its authenticity. But ’Abimelech’ was used as a title rather than a proper name of the kings of the Philistines, as Pharaoh was of the kings of Egypt. The second occasion was when David’s heart failed him, and he said, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." Achish dealt well with David, gave him Ziklag to dwell in, and would have had him go to war with him against Israel, saying, "I will make thee keeper of my head for ever" 1 Sam. 27; 1Sa 28:2. The lords of the Philistines however objected, and Achish begged David to return. See DAVID.

2. Another king of Gath, to whom the servants of Shimei fled, which led to Shimei’s death. 1Ki 2:39-40.

By: David Gordon Lyon, Louis Ginzberg

King of Gath in the time of David and Solomon (I Sam. xxi.-xxix. 1; I Kings, ii.). David, when fleeing from Saul, twice sought asylum with Achish, the first time incognito. He was, however, recognized, whereupon he feigned madness, and escaped (I Sam. xxi. 10-15, xxii. 1). The second time he was also recognized, but was well treated as a supposed enemy of Saul (I Sam. xxvii.). Achish led the Philistine attack on Israel which resulted in the death of Saul and his sons. He was also at the battle of Gilboa (I Sam. xxviii.-xxxi.). Two servants of Shimei fled to Achish (I Kings, ii. 39-46). The superscription to Ps. xxxiv. reads "Abimelech," apparently by error for Achish.

D. G. L.—In Rabbinical Literature:

The Haggadah elaborates David's insanity as follows: Among Achish's body-guard were the brothers of Goliath, who immediately sought to slay their brother's conqueror. Achish forbade this, pointing out that the combat had been a fair one. The brothers retorted that then, according to the terms of the agreement (I Sam. xvii 9), Achish must relinquish his throne to David. The only way out of this complication was for David to feign madness, but just at that time a daughter of Achish became really insane, and her mania was augmented by David's actions; therefore he was driven away (Midr. Teh. xxxiv.).

ACHISH.—The king of Gath to whom David fled for refuge after the massacre of the priests at Nob (1Sa 21:10). In 1Sa 27:2 he is called ‘the son of Maoch’ (possibly = ‘son of Maacah,’ 1Ki 2:39). He received David with his band of 600 men, and assigned him the city of Ziklag in the S. of Judah. Despite the wishes of Achish, the other Phil. princes refused to let David take part in the final campaign against Saul. [‘Achish’ should be read for ‘Abimelech’ in Psa 34:1-22 (title).]

ā´kish (אכישׁ, ’ākhı̄sh): King of the city of Gath in the days of David. His father’s name is given as Maoch (1Sa 27:2), and Maacah (1Ki 2:39). David sought 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), 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 31:1-13), 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 (3).