Kuningasaika
David acts mad before King Achish in Gath
David flees from Saul and comes to King Achish in Gath. When Achish's servants recognize him as the one they sang about – "Saul has struck his thousands, and David his ten thousands" – David becomes very afraid. He pretends to be mad and behaves like a crazy man, scratching on the gate doors and letting saliva run down into his beard. Achish dismisses him as a madman and asks the servants why they have brought him there.
1. Samuelin kirja 21,11-16
11That day David rose and fled from Saul, and he came to Achish king of Gath.
וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּבְרַ֥ח בַּיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא מִפְּנֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וַיָּבֹ֕א אֶל־אָכִ֖ישׁ מֶ֥לֶךְ גַּֽת׃
12But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sang of in their dances: 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ עַבְדֵ֤י אָכִישׁ֙ אֵלָ֔יו הֲלוֹא־זֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד מֶ֣לֶךְ הָאָ֑רֶץ הֲל֣וֹא לָזֶ֗ה יַעֲנ֤וּ בַמְּחֹלוֹת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ *באלפו **בַּאֲלָפָ֔יו וְדָוִ֖ד *ברבבתו **בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃
13David took these words to heart and became very afraid of Achish king of Gath.
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בִּלְבָב֑וֹ וַיִּרָ֣א מְאֹ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֖י אָכִ֥ישׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־גַּֽת׃
14So he pretended to be out of his mind in their presence and acted like a madman among them, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting his spittle run down his beard.
וַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ אֶת־טַעְמוֹ֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖ל בְּיָדָ֑ם *ויתו **וַיְתָיו֙ עַל־דַּלְת֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיּֽ[m]וֹרֶד רִיר֖וֹ אֶל־זְקָנֽוֹ׃
15Achish said to his servants, "Look at him—the man is insane! Why bring him to me?
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָכִ֖ישׁ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו הִנֵּ֤ה תִרְאוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ לָ֛מָּה תָּבִ֥יאוּ אֹת֖וֹ אֵלָֽי׃
16Am I short of madmen, that you bring this one to rave in my presence? Is he to come into my house?"
חֲסַ֤ר מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙ אָ֔נִי כִּי־הֲבֵאתֶ֣ם אֶת־זֶ֔ה לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַ עָלָ֑י הֲזֶ֖ה יָב֥וֹא אֶל־בֵּיתִֽי׃ ס