Keraia
1 Samuel 21

1 Samuel 21:13

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

Translations

Modern
So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.
Traditional
And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
Literal
And he changed his behavior before their eyes and feigned madness in their hands; and he scratched on the doors of the gate, and he let fall down his saliva on his beard.
Latin
Et immutavit os suum coram eis, et collabebatur inter manus eorum: et impingebat in ostia portæ, defluebantque salivæ ejus in barbam.

Original

Hebrew
English
So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.

Notes

1 Samuel 21:12–13

The long title of Psalm 34 mentions this event but calls the Philistine king Abimelech instead of Achish. "Abimelech" might have been a general title for Philistine kings (in Hebrew, it means "my father the king"). The name Abimelech also appears in Genesis 20:2 and 26:1.

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

Glossary

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

Topics

Achish: David Escapes To Beard: David David: King of Israel: Escapes to Gath Deceit: David Deception: David Feigns Madness Dissembling: David Falsehood: David in Feigning Madness Gath: David Takes Refuge At Insanity: Feigned by David Malingering: David Feigning Madness Philistines: Kings of Achish The Beard: Dribbling On, a Sign of Derangement Trees: The Jews: Often Buried Under