Achish

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

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  1 Samuel 21:10-13;  1 Samuel 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 ( 1 Samuel 27:1;  1 Samuel 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 ( 1 Kings 2:40) as the receiver of Shimei when he left Jerusalem contrary to Solomon's command.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

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.  1 Samuel 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 Samuel 27;  1 Samuel 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. 1 Kings 2:39,40 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

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.  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.  1 Samuel 27:1-12;  1 Samuel 28:1-2;  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.  1 Kings 2:39-40. In the title of  Psalms 34:1-22 he is called Abimelech.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

• The king with whom David sought refuge when he fled from Saul (1Samuel 21:10-15). He is called Abimelech in the superscription of  Psalm 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 (1Samuel 27:5-12). Achish had great confidence in the valour and fidelity of David (1Samuel 28:1,2), but at the instigation of his courtiers did not permit him to go up to battle along with the Philistine hosts (1Samuel 29:2-11). David remained with Achish a year and four months.
• Another king of Gath, probably grandson of the foregoing, to whom the two servants of Shimei fled. This led Shimei to go to Gath in pursuit of them, and the consequence was that Solomon put him to death (1Kings 2:39-46).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ACHISH . The king of Gath to whom David fled for refuge after the massacre of the priests at Nob (  1 Samuel 21:10 ). In   1 Samuel 27:2 he is called ‘the son of Maoch’ (possibly = ‘son of Maacah,’   1 Kings 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   Psalms 34:1-22 (title).]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Kin 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,  1 Samuel 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,  1 Samuel 27:1-29:11 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 21:10 1 Samuel 21:13 1 Samuel 27:1 1 Samuel 28:1-2 1 Samuel 29:1-11 1 Samuel 31:1-6 2 1 Kings 2:36-46

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(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  Psalms 34:1-22.

1. A Philistine king of Gath, with whom David sought refuge from Saul ( 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) ( 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.

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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 1 Samuel 28:1-2;  1 Samuel 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 ( 1 Kings 2:39-40), B.C. cir. 1012.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

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 ( 1 Samuel 21:10-15;  1 Samuel 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].