1 Samuel 21:12

12 {David took these words seriously} and {felt severely threatened by} Achish the king of Gath.

1 Samuel 21:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 21:12

And David laid up these words in his heart
Pondered upon them, and thought them over in his mind, finding that he was known, and his character also, and considered with himself what might be the consequence of this:

and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath;
lest he should be set against him, and be prevailed upon by his servants to take away his life, or deliver him up into the hands of Saul.

1 Samuel 21:12 In-Context

10 So David got up and fled on that day from the presence of Saul, and he came to Achish the king of Gath.

11 The servants of Achish said to him, "[Is] not this David the king of the land? [Is] it not for this [one] that they sang in the dances, saying, 'Saul killed his thousands, but David his ten thousands?'"

12 {David took these words seriously} and {felt severely threatened by} Achish the king of Gath.

13 So he changed his behavior {before them} and pretended to be mad {in their presence}. He made scratches on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down into his beard.

14 Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see a madman! Why did you bring him to me?

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "David put these words in his heart"
• [b]. Literally "he was very afraid from the face of"