1 Samuel 21:10-15

Lexham English Bible

David Flees to Achish in Gath

¹⁰ So David got up and fled on that day from the presence of Saul, and he came to Achish the king of Gath. ¹¹ The servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Is it not for this one that they sang in the dances, saying, ‘Saul killed his thousands, but David his ten thousands?’” ¹² David took these words seriously^[a] and felt severely threatened by^[b] Achish the king of Gath. ¹³ So he changed his behavior before them^[c] and pretended to be mad in their presence.^[d] He made scratches on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down into his beard. ¹⁴ Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see a madman! Why did you bring him to me? ¹⁵ Do I lack madmen that you have brought this one to act like a madman before me? Should this one enter my household?”