Difference between revisions of "Achish"

<p> [[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. &nbsp;1 Samuel 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. &nbsp;1 Samuel 27:1-12; &nbsp;1 Samuel 28:1-2; &nbsp;1 Samuel 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. &nbsp;1 Kings 2:39-40. In the title of &nbsp;Psalms 34:1-22 he is called Abimelech. </p>

<p> (Heb. Akish', אָכַישׁ '', Perhaps Angry;'' Sept. Ἀκχίς v. r. Ἀγχοῦς), 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 &nbsp;Psalms 34:1-22. </p> <p> '''1.''' A Philistine king of Gath, with whom David sought refuge from Saul (&nbsp;1 Samuel 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) (&nbsp;Psalms 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. </p> <p> 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 (&nbsp;1 Samuel 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 (&nbsp;1 Samuel 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 (&nbsp;1 Samuel 28:1-2; &nbsp;1 Samuel 29:2-11), B.C. 1053. (See [[David]]). </p> <p> '''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 (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:39-40), B.C. cir. 1012. </p>

<p> '''''ā´kish''''' ( אכישׁ , <i> ''''''ākhı̄sh''''' </i> ): King of the city of Gath in the days of David. His father's name is given as [[Maoch]] (&nbsp;1 Samuel 27:2 ), and [[Maacah]] (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:39 ). David sought the protection of Achish when he first fled from Saul, and just after his visit to Nob (&nbsp;1 Samuel 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]] (&nbsp;1 Samuel 22:1 ). Later in his fugitive period David returned to Gath to be hospitably received by Achish (&nbsp;1 Samuel 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 (&nbsp;1 Samuel 31:1-13 ), Achish wished David to participate (&nbsp;1 Samuel 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 (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:39 ). He is mentioned as Abimelech in the title of Ps 34. See Abimelech (3). </p>