1 Samuel 21:11

11 Or les serviteurs d'Akish lui dirent: N'est-ce pas là David, le roi du pays? N'est-ce pas celui dont on disait, en chantant dans les danses: Saül a tué ses mille, et David ses dix mille?

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 Et le sacrificateur dit: Voici l'épée de Goliath, le Philistin, que tu tuas dans la vallée du chêne; elle est enveloppée dans un drap, derrière l'éphod; si tu veux la prendre pour toi, prends-la; car il n'y en a point ici d'autre que celle-là. Et David dit: il n'y en a point de pareille; donne-la-moi.

10 Alors David se leva, et s'enfuit ce jour-là de devant Saül, et s'en alla vers Akish, roi de Gath.

11 Or les serviteurs d'Akish lui dirent: N'est-ce pas là David, le roi du pays? N'est-ce pas celui dont on disait, en chantant dans les danses: Saül a tué ses mille, et David ses dix mille?

12 Et David fut frappé de ces paroles, et il eut une fort grande peur d'Akish, roi de Gath.

13 Et il dissimula sa raison à leurs yeux, et fit l'insensé entre leurs mains; il faisait des marques sur les portes, et laissait couler sa salive sur sa barbe.