1 Samuel 21:11

11 Aber die Knechte des Achis sprachen zu ihm: Das ist der David, des Landes König, von dem sie sangen im Reigen und sprachen: Saul schlug tausend, David aber zehntausend. {~}

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

1 Samuel 21:11 In-Context

9 Der Priester sprach: Das Schwert des Philisters Goliath, den du schlugst im Eichgrunde, das ist hier, gewickelt in einen Mantel hinter dem Leibrock. Willst du das, so nimm's hin; denn es ist hier kein anderes als das. David sprach: Es ist seinesgleichen nicht; gib mir's!

10 Und David machte sich auf und floh vor Saul und kam zu Achis, dem König zu Gath. {~} {~}

11 Aber die Knechte des Achis sprachen zu ihm: Das ist der David, des Landes König, von dem sie sangen im Reigen und sprachen: Saul schlug tausend, David aber zehntausend. {~}

12 Und David nahm die Rede zu Herzen und fürchtete sich sehr vor Achis, dem König zu Gath,

13 und verstellte seine Gebärde vor ihnen und tobte unter ihren Händen und stieß sich an die Tür am Tor, und sein Geifer floß ihm in den Bart.