John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:13
And he changed his behaviour before them ,.... Behaved like a fool, or a madman: or changed his "taste" F19 טעמו "sensum suum", Montanus, Vatablus; "sermonem suum", Pagninus. ; which some understand of his reason, acted as if he was deprived of it; and others of his speech, his words and the accent of them, drawled them out, as such persons do: and feigned himself mad in their hands ; for in their hands he was, being taken by them, as the title of the fifty sixth psalm shows, ... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:10-15
David, though king elect, is here an exile?designed to be master of vast treasures, yet just now begging his bread?anointed to the crown, and yet here forced to flee from his country. Thus do God's providences sometimes seem to run counter to his promises, for the trial of his people's faith, and the glorifying of his name, in the accomplishment of his counsels, notwithstanding the difficulties that lay in the way. Here is, 1. David's flight into the land of the Philistines, where he hoped to... read more