(5) And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? (6) Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. (7) And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
The removal of David to Ziklag, seems to have been from an higher direction than either David or Achish. From its being nearer to the borders of Judah, the return thither would he more easily effected. And as Ziklag originally belonged to Judah, it was literally no other than giving back again what belonged to Judah. See Joshua 15:31.