And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
David was away from his own people at Gath, having sought safety among Israel's enemies only to find himself in danger there. Achish's people recognized him as the man who had killed the Philistine champion. At this he laid up their words in his heart and became sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. To deceive them and escape the danger he pretended to be mad and acted as if insane.
In this pretense saliva ran down his beard. His action to escape in this way was led by the Spirit of God.
David was away from his own people at Gath, having sought safety among Israel's enemies only to find himself in danger there. Achish's people recognized him as the man who had killed the Philistine champion. At this he laid up their words in his heart and became sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. To deceive them and escape the danger he pretended to be mad and acted as if insane.
In this pretense saliva ran down his beard. His action to escape in this way was led by the Spirit of God.