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David a Fugitive. 11 That same day David fled from Saul, going to Achish, king of Gath.(A) 12 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Is it not for him that during their dances they sing out,

‘Saul has slain his thousands,
    David his tens of thousands’?”(B)

13 David took note of these remarks and became very much afraid of Achish, king of Gath.[a] 14 So, he feigned insanity in front of them and acted like a madman in their custody, drumming on the doors of the gate and drooling onto his beard. 15 Finally Achish said to his servants: “You see the man is mad. Why did you bring him to me? 16 Do I not have enough madmen, that you bring this one to rant in my presence? Should this fellow come into my house?”

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Footnotes

  1. 21:13 Gath: a Philistine city (see note on 5:1–12), the home of Goliath.

11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances:

“‘Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands’?”(A)

12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. 13 So he pretended to be insane(B) in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”

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