1 Samuel 21:13-15

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

John Gill

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:14

Then said Achish to his servants, lo, you see the man is mad ,.... Which he said, as willing his servants should think so, and therefore rather the object of their pity than of their rage and malice; or as really believing he was so, which he and they might conclude not merely from these his actions, before described, which they might judge real and not feigned; but they might suppose this was truly his case, brought upon him by the ill usage of Saul, who pursuing him from place to place,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:15

Have I need of madmen ?.... Or fools, do I want them? have not I enough of them already at my court? I want wise men, and not fools and madmen. The Jews say F23 Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel. in loc. that the wife and daughter of Achish were mad; that while David was playing the fool and madman without, they were acting the same part within; so that Achish had enough of that sort of diversion, if it was to be reckoned such; as it was according to the taste of some persons, who used, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 21:13

And he changed his behavior - Some imagine David was so terrified at the danger to which he was now exposed, that he was thrown into a kind of frenzy, accompanied with epileptic fits. This opinion is countenanced by the Septuagint, who render the passage thus: Ιδου ιδετε ανδρα επιλητον ; "Behold, ye see an epileptic man. Why have ye introduced him to me?" Μη ελαττουμαι επιληπτων εγω ; "Have I any need of epileptics, that ye have brought him to have his fits before me, ( ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 21:15

Shall this fellow come into my house? - I will not take into my service a man who is liable to so grievous a disease. Chandler, who vindicates David's feigning himself, mad, concludes thus: "To deceive the deceiver is in many instances meritorious, in none criminal. And what so likely to deceive as the very reverse of that character which they had so misconstrued? He was undone as a wise man, he had a chance to escape as a madman; he tried, and the experiment succeeded." I... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:8-15

The hero unheroic. I. A WEAPON WAS GIVEN TO DAVID AT NOB THAT SHOULD HAVE STIRRED ALL THE HEROIC ELEMENT IN HIM AND RESTORED HIS FALTERING FAITH . Had he forgotten that the sword of Goliath was in custody of the priests? Or did he remember it, and was it for a sight and a grasp of this mighty weapon that he longed? Who can tell? The priest reminded him of the day when, with that very sword, he beheaded the prostrate giant in the valley of Elah.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:10-15

Uncertain light. The facts are— 1 . Arriving at Nob, David quiets the suspicions of Ahimelech by stating that he was on the king's secret business. 2 . On this ground he asks for and obtains hallowed bread to appease his hunger, and the sword of Goliath. 3 . Doeg the Edomite, being detained there that day, is observant of David's proceedings. Hitherto David had held position as an officer in Saul's household or in the army, and therefore, despite Saul's private jealousy, had a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:10-15

Uncertain light. The facts are— 1 . In continued fear of Saul, David flees to the king of Gath. 2 . Being recognised as the conqueror of Goliath, he fears the consequences. 3 . To escape vengeance he feigns madness. 4 . Achish the king thereupon refuses to have him in his service. There is no evidence that David received any Divine direction through the high priest, but the reverse ( 1 Samuel 22:15 ). He appears to have been left to the exercise of his own judgment as to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:13

He changed his behaviour. The same word is used in the title of Psalms 34:1-22 . Literally it means "his taste," and, like the Latin word sapientia, is derived from the action of the palate, and so from the faculty of discriminating flavours it came to signify the power of discrimination generally. Thus "to change his taste" means to act as if he had lost the power of distinguishing between objects. Feigned himself mad. Literally, "he roamed hither and thither" restlessly and in... read more

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