David Feigns Madness at Gath
1 Samuel 21:10-15
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1 S.21.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גלית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הפלשתי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הכית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- בעמק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האלה: DEM,pl
- הנה: PART
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- לוטה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- בשמלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחרי: PREP
- האפוד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אם: CONJ
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- תקח: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- קח: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- אחרת: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- זולתה: PRON,3,f,sg
- בזה: PREP+DEM
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- כמוה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- תננה: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 17:50-51 (verbal): Narrative of David's killing of Goliath and taking his sword — the same sword now in the priest's custody; direct continuity with the account of the trophy.
- 1 Samuel 17:54 (thematic): States that David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem and put the Philistine's armor in his tent — parallels the treatment and possession of Goliath's equipment as in 21:10.
- 1 Samuel 21:6 (structural): Earlier verse in the same Nob episode where the priest interacts with David (giving showbread); shows the wider priestly assistance to David and frames the offering of the sword in v.10.
- 2 Samuel 21:19 (allusion): Another account mentioning the death of Goliath (or a related giant) that creates a textual tradition parallel to 1 Samuel's Goliath episode; relevant for understanding variant traditions about the giant and his weapon.
- 1 Chronicles 20:5 (allusion): Chronicles' parallel to the Samuel/Saul narratives about battles with Philistine giants (including the Elhanan-Goliath material) — useful for comparing how the Goliath tradition and associated trophies are treated in different texts.
Alternative generated candidates
- The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah—behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take it, take it; for there is no other like it here." And David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."
- And the priest said, 'The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah—behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you will take it, take it, for there is no other like it here.' And David said, 'There is none like it; give it to me.'
1 S.21.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויברח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- מפני: PREP
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- גת: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:12-15 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same episode — David's arrival in Gath is followed by his feigning madness before Achish to secure his safety.
- 1 Samuel 27:2 (thematic): Later instance of the same pattern: David again seeks refuge with Achish/the Philistines, showing a recurring strategy of fleeing Saul by going to Philistine territory.
- Psalm 34 (allusion): The superscription links this psalm to the event at Gath ('when he changed his behavior before Abimelech'/'before Achish'); the psalm reflects deliverance and fear that fit the Gath episode.
- Psalm 56 (allusion): Superscription: composed 'when the Philistines took him in Gath' — expresses David’s trust and plea for mercy in the context of Philistine danger, thematically tied to his flight to Achish.
Alternative generated candidates
- David rose and fled that day from Saul, and came to Achish king of Gath.
- And David rose and fled that day from before Saul, and came to Achish king of Gath.
1 S.21.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- עבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- הלוא: PART
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הלוא: PART
- לזה: PREP+PRON,demonstrative,3,m,sg
- יענו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- במחלות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- הכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- באלפיו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons,poss:3,m,sg
- ודוד: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ברבבתיו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons,poss:3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 18:7 (quotation): The exact refrain cited by Achish’s servants — “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” — originates in the song of the women praising David’s victories.
- Psalm 34 (allusion): Superscription links this psalm to the episode where David feigned madness before a king (Abimelech/Achish), directly connecting to the same incident in 1 Sam 21:10–15.
- 1 Samuel 21:10–15 (structural): Immediate narrative context: David is in Gath, the king’s servants recognize the famed warrior, and David feigns madness to escape.
- 1 Samuel 18:6–11 (thematic): The broader context of public acclaim (the women’s song) and Saul’s ensuing jealousy and hostility toward David explains why David’s fame provokes dangerous consequences.
- 1 Samuel 19:1–7 (thematic): Shows the lethal hostility Saul directs at David because of David’s rising popularity — the same danger implied by the servants’ recognition in 21:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king in the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
- And the servants of Achish said to him, 'Is this not David, the king of the land? Is this not the one they sing of in their dances, saying,
1 S.21.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- בלבבו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
- מפני: PREP
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- גת: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 34:1 (superscription) (allusion): The superscription ties Psalm 34 to the same episode — 'when he changed his behavior before Abimelech/Abimelek' (i.e., Achish) — linking David's feigned madness and fear in Gath to this psalmic reflection.
- 1 Samuel 21:12 (verbal): Immediately parallel within the episode: this verse describes David's performance ('he changed his behavior, and let saliva run down his beard'), the concrete action that follows his fear noted in 21:13.
- Psalm 56:3–4 (superscription: when the Philistines took him in Gath) (thematic): Psalm composed in the context of David's capture in Gath; it expresses the theme of fear and reliance on God ('When I am afraid I put my trust in you'), echoing 21:13's fear of Achish and David's spiritual response to danger.
- 1 Samuel 27:2–6 (thematic): Later narrative in which David again goes to Achish and lives among the Philistines; contrasts with his earlier fear in 21:13 and shows a different strategy in dealing with the king of Gath.
Alternative generated candidates
- David took these words to heart and was greatly afraid of Achish king of Gath.
1 S.21.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- טעמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+suf,3,m,sg
- בעיניהם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,poss-3,m,pl
- ויתהלל: VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,sg
- בידם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ויתיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- דלתות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- השער: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויורד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- רירו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+suf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- זקנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+suf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:10-15 (structural): Immediate narrative context: David flees to Gath (Achish), and the surrounding verses describe him 'changing his behavior' and feigning madness before the Philistine king—the same episode as v.14.
- Psalm 34 (title and whole psalm) (allusion): The superscription links this psalm to the incident 'when he changed his behavior before Abimelech (Achish), who drove him away'; the psalm is traditionally tied to David's conduct in Gath and reflects the episode thematically.
- Psalm 56 (title) (thematic): The psalm's heading situates it 'when the Philistines took him in Gath,' connecting its plea and context to David's peril and experience among the Philistines in the same episode.
- 1 Samuel 27:1-7 (thematic): Later episode in which David lives among the Philistines under Achish's protection—a related theme of David's dealings with Gath/Achish and his adoption of a deceptive posture to secure safety.
Alternative generated candidates
- So he feigned madness before them; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall upon his beard.
1 S.21.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אכיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- עבדיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3ms
- הנה: PART
- תראו: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משתגע: VERB,hitpael,ptc,3,m,sg
- למה: ADV
- תביאו: VERB,qal,impf,2,mp
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:13 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same episode: this verse describes David's deliberate behavior (feigning madness, letting saliva run down) that prompts Achish's remark that the man is mad.
- 1 Samuel 21:10 (thematic): Part of the same scene: David's arrival in Gath and the servants' recognition/suspicion of him set the context for Achish's refusal and his comment that David appears insane.
- Mark 3:21 (verbal): Crowd/family reaction to an unorthodox figure: people say of Jesus, 'He is out of his mind'—a similar charge of madness used to dismiss a disruptive or unexpected behavior.
- Acts 26:24 (verbal): Festus interrupts Paul's defense with 'You are out of your mind, Paul!'—another instance where a religious or prophetic speaker is labeled insane, paralleling Achish's verdict on David.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see the man is mad—why have you brought him to me?"
And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck in the Valley of Elah—behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you will take it, take it, for there is no other like it here." And David said, "There is none like it; give it to me." And David rose and fled that day from Saul's presence, and came to Achish king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is not this David—the one of whom they used to sing to one another in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?'"
David laid these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he changed his appearance before them; he acted the madman in their sight, made marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down into his beard. And Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad—why have you brought him to me?"