1 Samuel 21:10

DAVID'S IMMEDIATE FLIGHT TO ACHISH; KING OF GATH

"And David rose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,

`Saul has slain his thousands,

and David his ten thousands'"?

And David took these words to heart, and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hand, and made marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. Then said Achish to his servants, "Lo, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house"?"

"And David arose and fled that day from Saul" (1 Samuel 21:10). That David fled at once from Nob was no doubt due to the presence there of Doeg.

The International Critical Commentary interpretation here is that the words "from Saul" in this passage mean that, "He went directly to Achish from the presence of Saul."[16] To which it must be replied that these words mean no such thing. They merely refer to David's continued flight from Saul.

"He went to Achish the king of Gath" (1 Samuel 21:11). David probably hoped that he could dwell incognito among the Philistines; but the king's servants instantly recognized him.

We appreciate the words of Keil regarding this chapter to the effect that, "It removes the objections raised by critics to the historical credibility of the narrative before US."[17]

"Is not this David the king of the land?" (1 Samuel 21:11). The superscriptions of Psalms 34; Psalms 52; and Psalms 56 are founded upon events in this chapter. The recognition of David by the Philistines, and their reference to him as "the king of the land" is not, as some critics declare, the result of some naive `editor' putting an inaccurate historical statement into the Bible. As Willis explained, "The servants of Achish recognized David and assumed that he was king of Israel on the basis of that song sung by the women of Israel (1 Samuel 18:7)."[18]

"So he changed his behavior ... and feigned madness" (1 Samuel 21:13). In those days, as at the present time, "Easterners have a religious awe of madness and would not think of injuring those so afflicted."[19]

We are not told here where David's men were who accompanied him to Nob. Perhaps he had made an appointment to meet them at some particular place as soon as he tested his chances of operating in Gath.

"Shall this fellow come into my house" (1 Samuel 21:15). "These words are an idiom meaning, `To be allowed to dwell in one's city or country.'"[20] This clarifies the whole episode. David intended to ask Achish for permission to dwell in Gath, probably having good reason to suppose that Achish would have honored his request. However, the soldiers of Achish recognized David, arrested him and would most certainly have opposed any inclination of Achish to grant political asylum to David. This severely frightened David, and he immediately began feigning madness. This, of course gave him the opportunity to escape and keep the rendezvous with his men.