While dwelling in this isolated town David made war upon the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites, and he left none alive to bring tidings to Gath. When he returned from battle he gave Achish to understand that he had been warring against those of his own nation, the men of Judah. By this dissembling he was the means of strengthening the hand of the Philistines; for the king said, "He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant forever." David knew that it was the will of God that those heathen tribes should be destroyed, and he knew that he was appointed to do this work; but he was not walking in the counsel of God when he practiced deception. 674

Mens David boede i denne isolerede by, førte han krig mod gesjuritterne, gizritterne og amalekitterne. Han dræbte hver eneste af dem, for at de ikke skulle røbe i Gat, hvad han havde gjort. Når han kom tilbage fra kampen, gav han Akisj det indtryk, at han havde kæmpet imod sine egne landsmænd, judæerne. Ved at skjule sandheden for filisterne bidrog han til at styrke deres hænder, for kongen sagde: "Han har gjort sig grundig forhadt hos sit folk Israel; han vil tjene mig for stedse!"