1 Samuel 21:10-15

10 Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to ¹Achish king of Gath.

11 But the ²servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? ³Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands '?"

12 David ⁴took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath.

13 So he ⁵disguised 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?

15 "Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this one to act the madman in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?"

1 Samuel 21:10-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 21

This chapter relates that David went to Nob, and pretending he was on secret business for the king, got shewbread, and the sword of Goliath, from Ahimelech the priest, 1Sa 21:1-9; and that passing from thence to Gath, where he was known, through fear feigned himself mad, and so escaped from thence, 1Sa 21:10-15.

Cross References

• 1. Ps 34: title
• 2. Ps 56: title
• 3. 1 Samuel 18:7; 1 Samuel 29:5
• 4. Luke 2:19
• 5. Ps 34: title

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "in his"