1 samuel 21:15 - Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Should this fellow come into my house?”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 samuel 21:15" mean?
This verse is from 1 Samuel 21:15, and it's King Achish of Gath speaking about David. Let's break down the meaning:
Context: David is fleeing from King Saul, who wants to kill him. In an attempt to protect himself, David goes to Gath, a Philistine city, and pretends to be insane (or at least behaves erratically). He acts foolishly, scratching on doors and letting saliva run down his beard (1 Samuel 21:13). This is a desperate act to appear harmless and avoid being identified as a threat.
"Do I lack madmen...?" Achish is expressing frustration and annoyance. He's saying, "Am I so short of crazy people that I need you to bring another one to me?" He already has enough problems dealing with the people in his own kingdom, and he doesn't need to add a random, crazy foreigner to the mix.
"...that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence?" He believes David's madness is an act. He sees it as a performance, a charade put on to fool him. He's offended that someone would try to deceive him in such a blatant way.
"Should this fellow come into my house?" This is the key point. Achish is asking why David, a seemingly dangerous and potentially disruptive individual, should be allowed to stay in his house or be under his protection. He sees no benefit to harboring someone who is either truly mad or pretending to be, and possibly dangerous or deceitful.
In essence, Achish is disgusted by David's behavior and wants him gone. He sees him as a nuisance, potentially dangerous, and doesn't want him in his city. He's publicly questioning the wisdom of his advisors or servants who might have allowed David to stay in the first place. He wants no trouble and no risk associated with this strange, unsettling man.
1 samuel 21:15 - Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Should this fellow come into my house?”
What does "1 samuel 21:15" mean?
This verse is from 1 Samuel 21:15, and it's King Achish of Gath speaking about David. Let's break down the meaning:
Context: David is fleeing from King Saul, who wants to kill him. In an attempt to protect himself, David goes to Gath, a Philistine city, and pretends to be insane (or at least behaves erratically). He acts foolishly, scratching on doors and letting saliva run down his beard (1 Samuel 21:13). This is a desperate act to appear harmless and avoid being identified as a threat.
"Do I lack madmen...?" Achish is expressing frustration and annoyance. He's saying, "Am I so short of crazy people that I need you to bring another one to me?" He already has enough problems dealing with the people in his own kingdom, and he doesn't need to add a random, crazy foreigner to the mix.
"...that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence?" He believes David's madness is an act. He sees it as a performance, a charade put on to fool him. He's offended that someone would try to deceive him in such a blatant way.
"Should this fellow come into my house?" This is the key point. Achish is asking why David, a seemingly dangerous and potentially disruptive individual, should be allowed to stay in his house or be under his protection. He sees no benefit to harboring someone who is either truly mad or pretending to be, and possibly dangerous or deceitful.
In essence, Achish is disgusted by David's behavior and wants him gone. He sees him as a nuisance, potentially dangerous, and doesn't want him in his city. He's publicly questioning the wisdom of his advisors or servants who might have allowed David to stay in the first place. He wants no trouble and no risk associated with this strange, unsettling man.