1 Samuel 21:12

12 David ¹took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish 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 Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath.

11 But the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands '?"

12 David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath.

13 So he disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard.

14 Then Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man behaving as a madman. Why do you bring him to me?

Cross References

• 1. Luke 2:19

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "in his"