¹⁰ That day David rose up and fled because he was afraid of Saul. He went to Achish, the king of Gath. ¹¹ The servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Is he not the one they sing about as they dance, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, David has killed his ten thousands.’ ”

¹² David Pretends Insanity. David took these words to heart, and he was terrified of Achish, the king of Gath. ¹³ He pretended to be out of his mind in front of them. While he was on his hands he would pound on the doors to the gate, and he would drool down his beard. ¹⁴ Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is out of his mind! Why did you bring him to me? ¹⁵ Am I so in need of people who are out of their mind that you brought me this man who is acting so strange? Must this man come into my house?”