David Seeks Refuge with Achish
1 Samuel 27:1-12
1 S.27.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- לבו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- עתה: ADV
- אספה: VERB,qal,impf,1,?,sg
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- המלט: VERB,hiphil,imperat,2,m,sg
- אמלט: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ונואש: VERB,nifal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ממני: PREP,suff,1,m,sg
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבקשני: VERB,qal,inf,0,0,0,pr1s
- עוד: ADV
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גבול: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונמלטתי: VERB,nifal,perf,1,m,sg
- מידו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:10-15 (structural): Earlier episode where David flees to Philistia (Gath) and seeks refuge with Achish/feigns madness—same choice to escape Saul by going among the Philistines.
- Psalm 34:1-22 (allusion): Superscription connects this psalm to David's conduct 'before Abimelech' (a parallel title to Achish) when he feigned madness; the psalm reflects the Philistine incident and David's flight.
- Psalm 56:1-13 (allusion): Superscription: 'When the Philistines took him in Gath.' The psalm expresses fear of persecutors and trust in God, thematically echoing David's fear of Saul and refuge among Philistines in 27:1.
- 1 Samuel 23:14-16 (thematic): Passage describing David's extended time as a fugitive pursued by Saul and hiding in strongholds—parallels the motive in 27:1 of escaping Saul's pursuit.
Alternative generated candidates
- David said to himself, 'One day soon, while I remain in Saul’s hand, there is no good for me. I will escape; I will flee to the land of the Philistines. Perhaps Saul will cease to seek me throughout all Israel’s borders, and I shall escape from his hand.'
- And David said to himself, 'Now one day with Saul is not good for me; I must escape—escape to the land of the Philistines. Perhaps Saul will cease to seek me throughout all the borders of Israel, and I shall flee from his hand.'
1 S.27.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויעבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ושש: CONJ+NUM,card,m,sg
- מאות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעוך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- גת: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:10-15 (verbal): Earlier episode where David also goes to Achish king of Gath and seeks refuge there (same place and king); the wording and setting are repeated.
- 1 Samuel 27:3 (structural): Immediate continuation within the same narrative that states David lived in Gath with Achish (expands and reiterates the situation introduced in 27:2).
- 1 Samuel 29:1-11 (thematic): Account of the Philistine leaders' distrust of David at the muster before battle and Achish's defense of him—shows the consequences and tensions of David's presence among the Philistines.
- 1 Samuel 30:1-6 (thematic): After David's period with the Philistines he returns to find Ziklag attacked and burned—illustrates fallout and risks related to his refuge with Achish.
Alternative generated candidates
- So David arose and he and the six hundred men who were with him crossed over to Achish son of Maachah, king of Gath.
- So David rose and went he and six hundred men who were with him to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath.
1 S.27.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בגת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ואנשיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וביתו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs,prsfx:3,m
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושתי: CONJ+NUM,f,du
- נשיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,3,m
- אחינעם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- היזרעאלית: ADJ,f,sg,def
- ואביגיל: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשת: NOUN,f,sg,cns
- נבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכרמלית: ADJ,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:10-15 (verbal): Earlier episode in which David goes to Gath and encounters Achish (and feigns madness) — connects directly with David’s presence at Gath and his dealings with the Philistine king.
- 1 Samuel 25:39-42 (allusion): Narrates David’s marriage to Abigail after Nabal’s death; explains the identity and origin of one of the wives named in 1 Sam 27:3.
- 1 Samuel 30:5-6 (verbal): Later incident at Ziklag records that David’s two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, were captured — ties the same household mentioned in 27:3 to the consequences of David’s Philistine residence.
- 1 Samuel 17:4 (thematic): Goliath is introduced as a champion from Gath — thematically ironic that David, the slayer of Goliath, later lives among the Philistines in Gath.
Alternative generated candidates
- David lived with Achish at Gath—he and his men, each man with his household. David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite, were with him.
- And David lived with Achish at Gath—he and his men, every man with his household; and David also had his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, Nabal's wife of Carmel.
1 S.27.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לשאול: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- כי: CONJ
- ברח: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גת: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- יסף: VERB,qal,juss,3,m,sg
- עוד: ADV
- לבקשו: PREP+INF,qal,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Sam 21:10-15 (verbal): Reports an earlier episode of David fleeing to Gath and his behavior there (feigning madness before Achish), directly parallel to the motif of David seeking refuge in a Philistine city.
- 1 Sam 23:14-15 (verbal): Describes a time when Saul actively pursued David daily in the wilderness — provides a close verbal and thematic contrast to 27:4, which states Saul no longer sought David.
- 1 Sam 24:1-7 (thematic): Narrates Saul's pursuit of David with three thousand men and David's opportunity to kill Saul in a cave; underscores the ongoing chase motif that 27:4 reports as having ceased.
- Ps 59:1-4 (title and vv. 1–3) (allusion): A psalm linked to the episode when Saul sent men to watch David's house—David's lament about being hunted echoes the theme of Saul seeking David found in 27:4.
- 1 Sam 29:1-11 (thematic): Describes David's presence with the Philistine forces and the Philistines' later distrust of him; parallels the situation in which David is living among the Philistines (Gath) and the surrounding political consequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- It was told Saul, 'David has fled to Gath,' and he no longer sought him.
- It was told Saul, 'David has fled to Gath,' and he no longer sought him.
1 S.27.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- נא: PART
- מצאתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- חן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בעיניך: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,const,2,ms
- יתנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- מקום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- באחת: PREP
- ערי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- השדה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואשבה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,_,sg
- שם: ADV
- ולמה: CONJ
- ישב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עבדך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,ms
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הממלכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- עמך: NOUN,m,sg,suff-2m
Parallels
- 1 Sam.27:6 (structural): Immediate continuation: Achish grants David a town (Ziklag) to dwell in, directly fulfilling David’s request to have a place in one of the country towns.
- 1 Sam.21:10-15 (thematic): Earlier episode where David seeks refuge among the Philistines (in Gath) and must secure his safety by deception—parallels the motif of David living among Philistines to avoid Saul.
- 1 Sam.29:4-5 (structural): Later scene where the Philistine princes distrust David and pressure Achish to send him away, showing the fragile nature of David’s residence in Philistine territory despite Achish’s favor.
- 1 Sam.30:1-6 (thematic): Consequent crisis: Ziklag (the town given to David) is attacked and burned, which highlights the risks and consequences tied to David’s choice to live among the Philistines.
Alternative generated candidates
- David said to Achish, 'If I have found favor in your sight, give me a place in one of the country towns; let me live there. Why should your servant sit in the royal city with you?'
- And David said to Achish, 'If I have found favor in your eyes, give me a place in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there; why should your servant live in the royal city with you?'
1 S.27.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- צקלג: NOUN,prop,sg,f
- לכן: ADV
- היתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- צקלג: NOUN,prop,sg,f
- למלכי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- עד: PREP
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Sam 21:10-15 (thematic): Earlier episode in which David flees to Gath and encounters Achish (or his court); sets up David’s shifting relationship with the Philistines that culminates in his later residence at Ziklag.
- 1 Sam 27:2-7 (structural): Immediate narrative context: these verses describe David’s move to Philistine territory and Achish’s granting of Ziklag—verse 27:6 is the culmination of this unit.
- 1 Sam 29:1-11 (thematic): Later scene at the Philistine muster where the other Philistine leaders reject David despite Achish’s favor; contrasts Achish’s earlier gift and highlights the precariousness of David’s stay in Philistine service.
- 1 Sam 30:1-6 (thematic): Account of the Amalekite raid on Ziklag and David’s response; demonstrates David’s residence and authority in Ziklag and explains its significance for his band.
- 2 Sam 2:4 (allusion): David is anointed king over Judah at Hebron; the note in 1 Sam 27:6 that Ziklag belonged to the kings of Judah points forward to David’s dynastic possession of the city once Judah’s monarchy is established.
Alternative generated candidates
- On that day Achish gave him Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.
- On that day Achish gave him the town of Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.
1 S.27.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מספר: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ישב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בשדה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וארבעה: CONJ+NUM,card,m,sg
- חדשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- 1 Sam.27.1 (structural): The decision that leads David to live among the Philistines — he resolves to flee to Philistia to escape Saul, initiating the period described in 27:7.
- 1 Sam.27.6 (verbal): Immediate context: Achish gives David Ziklag and David sojourns in the land of the Philistines, directly relating to the reported duration of his stay.
- 1 Sam.21.10-15 (thematic): An earlier episode in which David seeks refuge in the Philistine city of Gath; shows a recurring pattern of David taking asylum among Philistines when threatened by Saul.
- Ps.56 (title and context) (allusion): Psalm linked to David’s experience ‘when the Philistines took him in Gath’; thematically echoes David’s peril and presence among Philistines during periods of exile.
- 1 Sam.29:1-11 (structural): Narrative continuation: Philistine leaders ultimately reject David’s participation in their campaign and send him back, marking the end/consequence of his sojourn among the Philistines.
Alternative generated candidates
- The time that David lived in the land of the Philistines was a year and four months.
- And the time that David lived in the land of the Philistines was a year and four months.
1 S.27.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואנשיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- ויפשטו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- הגשורי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- והגזרי: CONJ+NOUN,ethn,m,sg,def
- והעמלקי: CONJ+NOUN,ethn,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- הנה: PART
- ישבות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מעולם: ADV
- בואך: PREP,when+NOUN,m,sg+PRON,2,m,sg
- שורה: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 27:9-12 (verbal): Immediate continuation: further details of David's raids on the Geshurites, Gezrites and Amalekites and his deceit toward Achish—same episode and wording context.
- 1 Samuel 30:1-20 (thematic): David's later campaign against the Amalekites who had raided Ziklag—another episode where David attacks Amalek and recovers spoil and captives, showing ongoing enmity between David and Amalek.
- Exodus 17:8-16 (thematic): Earliest biblical encounter with the Amalekites as perennial enemies of Israel; sets precedent for Israelite conflict with Amalek that frames later references to Amalekite hostilities.
- Deuteronomy 25:17-19 (thematic): Command to 'remember' and blot out Amalek from under heaven—establishes longstanding hostility toward Amalek as a covenantal memory and motive for attacking them.
- 2 Samuel 13:37-39 (allusion): Mentions Geshur as a distinct polity when Absalom flees there (son of Talmai king of Geshur), underscoring Geshurites' separate identity within the narratives about David's era.
Alternative generated candidates
- David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites, for the settled peoples of the land had been there from of old as far as the border of Egypt.
- And David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites, for those were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as the land of Egypt.
1 S.27.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ולא: CONJ
- יחיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואשה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- צאן: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ובקר: CONJ,NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וחמרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וגמלים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ובגדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 27:8 (structural): Immediate pericope: the preceding verse recounts David's raids on neighboring groups and his return to Achish—same narrative unit and pattern of striking the land and bringing spoil to the Philistine king.
- 1 Samuel 30:17-19 (verbal): A closely parallel episode: David defeats the Amalekites, 'none escaped,' and recovers flocks, cattle, donkeys, camels and garments—near-verbatim language and the same actions of slaughter and seizing spoil.
- Joshua 6:21 (thematic): Conquest/herem language—'they devoted the city to destruction, both men and women'—parallels the motif of total slaughter ('no man or woman left alive').
- Judges 21:10-11 (thematic): Narrative of a punitive raid in which Israelites attack a town, strike it with the sword and carry off captives and spoil—similar pattern of massacre and seizure of livestock and goods.
Alternative generated candidates
- David struck the land and left no man or woman alive; he took sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, and garments, and he returned and came to Achish.
- David struck the land and left no man or woman alive; he took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and returned and came to Achish.
1 S.27.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- פשטתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- נגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- נגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הירחמאלי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- נגב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקיני: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 27:6 (structural): Achish gives David the town of Ziklag and David lives there—sets the geographic and political context for David’s raids mentioned in v.10.
- 1 Samuel 27:8 (structural): Immediate parallel listing the peoples David actually raided (Geshurites, Girzites, Amalekites), showing what David was doing 'to the south'.
- 1 Samuel 27:9 (thematic): Explains David’s tactic of leaving no survivors so Achish would think he was raiding Israelite territory—illuminates the deception behind his report in v.10.
- 1 Samuel 29:4 (verbal): Achish’s later expression of trust in David (‘as an angel of God’) reflects the success of David’s deception and Achish’s belief in David’s accounts of his raids.
Alternative generated candidates
- Achish said, 'Whom did you raid today?' David answered, 'Against the Negeb of Judah, against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negeb of the Kenites.'
- And Achish said, 'Where did you make a raid today?' And David said, 'Against the Negev of Judah, against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites.'
1 S.27.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואשה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יחיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להביא: VERB,hif,inf
- גת: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- פן: CONJ
- יגדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- כה: ADV
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכה: CONJ+ADV
- משפטו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- כל: DET
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ישב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בשדה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
Parallels
- 1 Sam 27:2–7 (structural): Immediate context: David takes refuge with Achish, conducts raids while pretending loyalty to the Philistines—explains motive for silencing any informants in Gath.
- 1 Sam 21:10–15 (thematic): Earlier episode of David in Gath (feigning madness)—parallel theme of David hiding among Philistines and using deception to protect himself.
- 1 Sam 29:1–11 (thematic): Philistine commanders’ suspicion of David and Achish’s predicament—illustrates the danger that news of David’s presence or actions could reach Gath and compromise him.
- 1 Sam 15:3 (verbal): Samuel’s command to Saul to ‘put to death men and women’ of Amalek—parallels the explicit idea of leaving no survivors to remove witness or future threat.
- Deut 20:16–18 (thematic): Deuteronomic regulation to destroy certain cities/peoples completely—provides legal/theological precedent for the tactic of leaving no one alive to report or remain a danger.
Alternative generated candidates
- David left neither man nor woman alive to bring to Gath, for he thought, 'They may tell about us, saying, “So David has done,” and that would be his custom all the days he has lived among the Philistines.'
- David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring to Gath, for he thought, 'Lest they should tell,
1 S.27.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בדוד: PREP
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- הבאש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הבאיש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בעמו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,poss,3,m,sg
- בישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לעבד: VERB,qal,inf
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1Sam.27.11 (structural): Immediate narrative antecedent: David's report of raids to Achish, which directly produces Achish's statement of trust in 27:12.
- 1Sam.29.4 (thematic): Same narrative cycle—Achish again vouches for David to Philistine leaders, showing sustained trust in David despite others' suspicions.
- 1Sam.21.13 (verbal): Earlier encounter with Achish in Gath where Achish accepts David's acted story (David feigning madness); provides precedent for Achish's readiness to believe David's claims.
- 2Sam.5.11 (thematic): Parallel theme of foreign rulers treating David favorably (Hiram of Tyre providing for David), illustrating the motif of non‑Israelite support/recognition of David's status.
Alternative generated candidates
- So Achish trusted David, saying, 'He has made himself odious among his people in Israel; he will be my servant forever.'
- And Achish trusted David, saying, 'He has made himself odious among his people in Israel; he will be my servant forever.'
And David said to his heart, 'Soon one day I shall be taken by Saul—there is no good for me. I will escape; I will flee to the land of the Philistines. Perhaps Saul will cease seeking me any longer throughout all the borders of Israel, and I shall escape from his hand.' And David arose and went, he and six hundred men who were with him, to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And David lived with Achish at Gath—he and his men, each man with his household; David, and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, and he no longer sought him. And David said to Achish, 'If I have found favor in your eyes, let a town of the fields be given me, that I may dwell there; why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?' And Achish gave him Ziklag that day; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. And the time that David lived in the land of the Philistines was a year and four months. And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites; for those were the inhabitants of the land from of old, from Shur even to the land of Egypt. And David struck the land, leaving neither man nor woman alive; he took away the sheep and oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and returned and came to Achish. And Achish said, 'Where have you raided today?' And David said, 'Against the Negev of Judah, against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites.' And David would not leave alive any man or woman to bring to Gath, lest it be reported about us, saying, "Thus David does, and thus he always does," while he lives among the Philistines. And Achish trusted David, saying, 'He has made himself an object of scorn among his people in Israel; he shall be my servant forever.'