1 Samuel 21:10-15

David Flees to Gath

10 David fled that day from Saul's presence and went to King Achish of Gath.

11 But Achish's servants said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Don't they sing about him during their dances: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands?"^[a]

12 David took this to heart^[b] and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath,

13 so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them,^[c][d]scribbling^[e] on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

14 "Look! You can see the man is crazy," Achish said to his servants. "Why did you bring him to me?

15 Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?"^[f]

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 18:7, 29:5
• [b]. Lit David placed these words in his heart
• [c]. Lit madman in their hand
• [d]. Pss 34, 56 superscriptions
• [e]. LXX reads drumming
• [f]. Ps 34 superscription