David Flees to Gath

¹⁰ David got up that day and fled from Saul, and he went to King Achish of Gath. ¹¹ The officials^[a] of Achish told him, “Isn’t this David, king of the land? Isn’t this the one about whom they sang as they danced,

¹² David took these words seriously,^[b] and he was very frightened of King Achish of Gath. ¹³ So David changed his behavior before them and acted like he was crazy in their presence. He scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down his beard. ¹⁴ Achish told his officials,^[c] “Look, you see a person acting like a madman. Why’d you bring him to me? ¹⁵ Am I lacking madmen that you bring me this one to act like a madman around me? Shall this one come into my house?”