David Flees to Gath
David asks Ahimelech for a spear or sword, and the priest offers him Goliath’s sword from behind the ephod. David leaves with the weapon tied to his earlier victory.
T8hen David asked Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s mission was urgent.” 9The 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 here.”
David flees to Achish in Gath, but Achish’s servants recognize him from the songs about his victories. Their words make David realize the danger and fill him with fear.
10That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11But 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: 12Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
David changes his behavior and feigns madness, scratching at the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. Achish treats him as a nuisance rather than a threat and refuses to receive him.
13So 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. 14Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you can see that the man is insane! Why have you brought him to me? 15Am I in need of madmen, that you have brought this man to rave in my presence? Must this man come into my house?”