Achish (Hebrew 'Akîš; Septuagint Ἀγγύος recalling Ἀγγίσωι; cf. I-Ha-U-Su of Assyrian inscriptions of the 7th century)

ACHIS (Hebr. Akish; Septuagint Ἀγγύος, which recalls Ἀγγίσῳ; cf. I-ha-u-su in the Assyrian inscriptions of the 7th century). - Son of Maoch and king (séren) of Geth, one of the 5 Philistine satraps, contemporary of David. After having been saved at Achimelek (v.), David sought asylum with A.; but, recognized by the courtiers as the slayer of Goliath, he feigned madness and A. sent him away (I Sam. 21, 11-16). The heading of Ps. 33 (34), 1, refers to this episode, but the name is corrupted into Abimelech (Masoretic text) or Achimelech (Vulgate). David later returned to Geth, by then a famous raider, with a band of 600 men, and was well received by A., who gave him the city of Siceleg. From there David raided the Amalekites, Geshurites, and Gerzites, while telling A., to whom he gave part of the booty, that he was fighting Israel. A. wished to take David and his men with him in the campaign against Israel which ended at Gelboe with Saul’s death, but the other chiefs, less ingenuous than he, opposed this (I Sam. 27 and 29). In Solomon’s time, A. Semei (v.) his runaway slaves (I Reg. 2, 39 ff.). Unless this is a namesake (A. may have been a hereditary name), A.’s reign at Geth lasted at least 50 years.

Francesco Spadafora