John Gill Commentary 1 Samuel 21:15

"Do I lack madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?" — 1 Samuel 21:15 (ASV)

Have I need of madmen ?
&c.] Or fools, do I want them? have not I enough of them already at my court? I want wise men, and not fools and madmen. The Jews say ^F23 that the wife and daughter of Achish were mad; that while David was playing the fool and madman without, they were acting the same part within; so that Achish had enough of that sort of diversion, if it was to be reckoned such; as it was according to the taste of some persons, who used, as in later so in earlier times, to keep fools in their houses to make them sport; but Achish had enough of that, and too much, at least needed no more:

that you have brought this [fellow] to play the madman in my presence ?
or act the part of a fool before me:

shall this [fellow] come into my house ?
court or palace, and have a post there; you need be in no pain about it; he is neither agreeable to me, nor fit for any; and therefore Achish drove him away as a fool or madman, instead of imprisoning him as an enemy, or taking away his life; see the title of the thirty fourth psalm, (Psalms 34:1) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F23: Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel. in loc.