1 Samuel 21:11

11 The king's officials said to Achish, "Isn't this David, the king of his country? This is the man about whom the women sang, as they danced, "Saul has killed thousands, but David has killed tens of thousands.' " 1

1 Samuel 21:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 21:11

And the servants of Achish said unto him
Who knew who David was, and perceiving that he was respected by Achish:

[is] not this David the king of the land?
of the land of the Philistines; so some render the words, "the king of this land" F17; which belongs unto him for his conquest of Goliath; for this was what was proposed by him, that whoever was the conqueror should possess the kingdom; and seeing it belongs to him, O Achish, why dost thou admit him to court? thou wilt be driven from the throne, and we shall be his servants, and not thine F18: but rather they mean the king of the land of Israel, having heard that he was anointed king by Samuel, and was to succeed Saul; or rather, they called him so because he led out the armies of Israel as their general, and being victorious was more respected than even Saul was; for they had heard what the women sung in their songs as follows:

did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath
slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
which are the burden of their song, ( 1 Samuel 18:7 ) ; and from whence the servants of Achish concluded, that he was in greater authority or honour, and in greater esteem than Saul their king was.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (Urah Klm) "rex hujus regionis", Vatablus.
F18 Vid. Jarchium & Jesaiam in loc.

1 Samuel 21:11 In-Context

9 Ahimelech answered, "I have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in Elah Valley; it is behind the ephod, wrapped in a cloth. If you want it, take it - it's the only weapon here." "Give it to me," David said. "There is not a better sword anywhere!"
10 So David left, fleeing from Saul, and went to King Achish of Gath.
11 The king's officials said to Achish, "Isn't this David, the king of his country? This is the man about whom the women sang, as they danced, "Saul has killed thousands, but David has killed tens of thousands.' "
12 Their words made a deep impression on David, and he became very much afraid of King Achish.
13 So whenever David was around them, he pretended to be insane and acted like a madman when they tried to restrain him; he would scribble on the city gates and let spit drool down his beard.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 21.11 1 Samuel 18.7; 29.5.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.