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1 Samuel 21:11

AchishDavidSaul
Fear

9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

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

13 So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
KJV
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
WEB
The servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David the king of the land? Didn’t they sing to one another about him in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
ASV
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?
DARBY
And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has smitten his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
BLB
And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did not of this one they sing in their dances, saying, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his myriads?’”
ÅB
Og Akis' tjener sa til ham: Er ikke dette David, landets konge? Er det ikke ham de sang om under dansen: Saul har slått sine tusener, men David sine titusener?
OTB
Men Akisjs tjenere sa til ham,
"Er ikke dette David, kongen av landet? Sang de ikke om ham mens de danset og sa,
'Saul har slått sine tusener,
Og David sine titusener'?"
B1930
Og Akis' tjener sa til ham: Er ikke dette David, landets konge? Er det ikke ham de sang om under dansen: Saul har slått sine tusener, men David sine titusener?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 29:5

    Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

    Read in context

  • Psalms 56:1–13

    Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 16:1

    Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 18:7–8

    And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

    Read in context