1 Samuel 21:10-13

21:10 So on that day David arose and fled from Saul. He went to King Achish of Gath. 21:11 The servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one that they sing about when they dance, saying,

‘Saul struck down his thousands,

But David his tens of thousands’?”

21:12 David thought about what they said ¹  and was very afraid of King Achish of Gath. 21:13 He altered his behavior in their presence. ²  Since he was in their power, ³  he pretended to be insane, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting his saliva run down his beard.

¹ tn Heb “placed these matters in his heart.”

¹ tn Heb “in their eyes.”

² tn Heb “in their hand.”