1 Samuel 21:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

NIV: David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.

NASB: David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath.

CSB: David took this to heart and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath,

NLT: David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him.

KJV: And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

NKJV: Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

First Samuel 21:10–15 describes David's attempt to find refuge from King Saul with Achish, the king of the Philistine city of Gath. Achish's servants quickly recognize David as their greatest foe. David realizes the king may kill him and acts as if he's out of his mind to prove he's not a threat. On his own, David finds shelter in the cave of Adullam. When his family hears, they join him, as do four hundred men and their families (1 Samuel 22:1–5).

In 1 Samuel 21, David runs from King Saul to the city of Nob. There, he convinces the priest Ahimelech into providing bread and weapons for David and his non-existent soldiers. Ahimelech gives David holy bread and allows David to take the sword of Goliath kept in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 17:51). David flees to Gath to seek refuge with the Philistines. When the king's men recognize him, though, David pretends to be out of his mind to convince Achish that he isn't the champion of Israel, after all.

First 1 Samuel 21 sets David up as a paramilitary commander. Jonathan has admitted his father's murderous hatred of David. Jonathan and David part after confirming their covenant of friendship (1 Samuel 20). David runs to the priest Ahimelech and tricks him into providing food and a sword. David then recklessly seeks shelter from a Philistine king and only escapes by acting insane. Alone, David goes to a cave where he's quickly joined by his family and 400 men with their families. After hiding his parents away in Moab, David starts building his army (1 Samuel 22:1–5).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 9/17/2025 1:38:44 PM