1 Samuel 21:7-15 ▼

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.

8 David said to Ahimelech, |Isn't there here under your control spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.|

9 The priest said, |The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, look, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind an ephod. If you will take that, take it; for there is no other except that here.| David said, |There is none like that. Give it to me.|

10 David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

11 The servants of Achish said to him, |Isn't this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another about him in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands?'|

12 David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13 He changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be mad in their hands, and drummed on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard.

14 Then Achish said to his servants, |Look, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me?

15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?|