1 Samuel 21:15

15 Fehlt es mir an Wahnsinnigen, daß ihr diesen hergebracht habt, um sich bei mir wahnsinnig zu gebärden? Sollte der in mein Haus kommen?

1 Samuel 21:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 21:15

Have I need of madmen?
&c.] Or fools, do I want them? have not I enough of them already at my court? I want wise men, and not fools and madmen. The Jews say ^F23 that the wife and daughter of Achish were mad; that while David was playing the fool and madman without, they were acting the same part within; so that Achish had enough of that sort of diversion, if it was to be reckoned such; as it was according to the taste of some persons, who used, as in later so in earlier times, to keep fools in their houses to make them sport; but Achish had enough of that, and too much, at least needed no more:

that ye have brought this [fellow] to play the madman in my presence?
or act the part of a fool before me:

shall this [fellow] come into mine house?
court or palace, and have a post there; you need be in no pain about it; he is neither agreeable to me, nor fit for any; and therefore Achish drove him away as a fool or madman, instead of imprisoning him as an enemy, or taking away his life; see the title of the thirty fourth psalm, ( Psalms 34:1 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel. in loc.

1 Samuel 21:15 In-Context

13 Und er verstellte seinen Verstand vor ihren Augen und tat unsinnig unter ihren Händen, und er kritzelte an die Flügel des Tores und ließ seinen Speichel auf seinen Bart herabfließen.

14 Da kam Achis zu seinen Knechten: Siehe, ihr sehet einen wahnsinnigen Mann; warum bringet ihr ihn zu mir?

15 Fehlt es mir an Wahnsinnigen, daß ihr diesen hergebracht habt, um sich bei mir wahnsinnig zu gebärden? Sollte der in mein Haus kommen?