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Then said Achish to his servants, Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me?
Verse Takeaways
1
Why Feigning Madness Worked
Commentators explain that David's ruse was effective because ancient cultures often viewed the insane as being 'touched by the divine' and thus under special protection. Achish's reaction, whether he was truly deceived or not, shows he considered David an object of pity rather than an enemy to be executed. As one scholar notes, David's very presence in an enemy city would have seemed like the act of a madman.
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1 Samuel
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19th Century
Anglican
Then said Achish ... the man is mad. —The Philistine king would look with particular sorrow and repulsion on a madman if, accordin…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Then said Achish to his servants, lo, you see the man is mad , &c.] Which he said, as willing his servants should think s…
Presbyterian
God's persecuted people have often found better treatment from Philistines than from Israelites. David had reason to put confidence in Achish, yet …