Keraia
1 Samuel 21

1 Samuel 21:11

David Flees to Gath · 1 Samuel 21:8–15
Read 1 Samuel 21

Translations

Modern
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
Traditional
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
Literal
And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did not of this one they sing in their dances, saying, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his myriads?’”
Latin
Dixeruntque servi Achis ad eum cum vidissent David: Numquid non iste est David rex terræ? nonne huic cantabant per choros, dicentes: Percussit Saul mille, et David decem millia?

Original

Hebrew
English
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

Notes

1 Samuel 21:11

king of the land: David’s reputation as a powerful warrior had become even greater than King Saul’s (see 1 Samuel 18:7). Because of this, people outside Israel began to speak of David as if he were already Israel’s king.

1 Samuel 21:10–15

Gath, a major Philistine city and the hometown of Goliath, was a clever but dangerous place for David to seek refuge from Saul.

Theme notes and profiles

David Saul The Philistines

Events

Parallels

Psalm 34:1–22 Psalm 56:1–13

People

Achish: Philistine king of Gath, gave refuge to David David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Saul: First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel

Glossary

Abiathar Abimelech Achish David Doeg Gath Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Achish: David Escapes To Dancing: General Scriptures Concerning David: King of Israel: Escapes to Gath Deception: David Feigns Madness Gath: David Takes Refuge At Philistines: Kings of Achish