1 Samuel 21:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"

NIV: Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?"

NASB: Do I lack insane people, that you have brought this one to behave like an insane person in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?'

CSB: Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?"

NLT: We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?'

KJV: Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

NKJV: Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

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 8/30/2025 9:11:41 PM