1 samuel 21:14 - Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why then have you brought him to me?

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 21:14

What does "1 samuel 21:14" mean?


In 1 Samuel 21, David flees from Saul and seeks refuge with Achish, the king of Gath (a Philistine city). The servants of Achish recognize David and point out that he is the David who killed many Philistines. David, fearing for his life, pretends to be insane.

Verse 1 Samuel 21:14 specifically reveals Achish's reaction to David's feigned madness. He says to his servants, "Look, you see the man is insane. Why then have you brought him to me?"

This verse means:

Achish is convinced David is genuinely mad. David's act is successful in fooling Achish. He believes David is actually mentally unstable.

Achish is annoyed at his servants. He's irritated that they brought a madman to him. Achish doesn't want to be bothered with someone who is perceived as a burden or potentially dangerous due to his insanity.

Achish dismisses David as a threat. A madman is not seen as a credible threat to Achish or his kingdom. This is the primary reason David's feigned insanity works. He avoids being recognized as the dangerous warrior who fought against the Philistines.

In summary, the verse shows that David's plan worked. He successfully avoided capture and potential death by convincing Achish he was harmless and insane. Achish, for his part, is annoyed at his servants for bringing him someone he considers a nuisance and no longer sees David as a threat.

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