1 Samuel 21:6-15 ▼

6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD {YHWH} and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.

7 Now one of Saul’s (desired) servants was there that day, detained before the LORD {YHWH}. And his name was Doeg (fearing) the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.

8 Then David (beloved) asked Ahimelech (my brother is king), “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s mission was urgent.”

9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath (splendor) the Philistine (immigrants), whom you killed in the Valley of Elah (An oak), is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one here.” And David (beloved) said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

10 That day David (beloved) fled from Saul (desired) and went to Achish (I will blacken) king of Gath (winepress).

11 But the servants of Achish (I will blacken) said to him, “Is this not David (beloved), the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul (desired) has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

12 Now David (beloved) took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish (I will blacken) the king of Gath (winepress).

13 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.

14 Then Achish (I will blacken) said to his servants, “Look, you⁺ can see that the man is insane! Why have you⁺ brought him to me?

15 Am I in need of madmen, that you⁺ have brought this man to rave in my presence? Must this man come into my house?”