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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/21.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then David set out and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then David arose and fled from Saul that day, and went to Achish king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />David fled that day from Saul’s presence and went to King Achish of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />David fled that day from Saul&#8217s presence and went to King Achish of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />David kept on running from Saul that day until he came to Gath, where he met with King Achish. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />That day David left. He was [still] fleeing from Saul when he came to King Achish of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So David left, fleeing from Saul, and went to King Achish of Gath. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />David got up that day and fled from Saul, and he went to King Achish of Gath. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So on that day David arose and fled from Saul. He went to King Achish of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And David rises and flees on that day from the face of Saul, and comes to Achish king of Gath;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And David riseth and fleeth on that day from the face of Saul, and cometh in unto Achish king of Gath;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br /><RF q=*><font color=#808080><i>The original Julia E. Smith Bible records the following as a verse reference for </i></font><i><font color=#0000FF> <a href=#>1 Sam 21:11</a></i></font><Rf> And David will rise and flee in that day from the face of Saul, and he will come to Achish, king of Gath.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And David arose and fled that day from the face of Saul: and came to Achis the king of Geth: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And so, David rose up, and he fled on that day from the face of Saul. And he went to Achish, the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />That same day David fled from Saul, going to Achish, king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />David rose and fled that day from Saul; he went to King Achish of Gath.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And David arose and fled that day from fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Priest said: “The sword of Gulyath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley in Temtha, and behold, it is wrapped in a napkin behind the ephod. If you will take it, take it ,because there is none other here.” And David said: “There is none like it! Give it to me!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he gave it him; and David arose, and fled in that day from he presence of Saul: and David came to Anchus king of Geth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/21-10.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=6384" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/21.htm">David Flees to Gath</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">9</span>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.” <span class="reftext">10</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: ha·hū (Art:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">That</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bay·yō·wm- (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day</a> <a href="/hebrew/1732.htm" title="1732: dā·wiḏ (N-proper-ms) -- Perhaps beloved one, a son of Jesse. Rarely; Daviyd; from the same as dowd; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse.">David</a> <a href="/hebrew/6965.htm" title="6965: way·yā·qām (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To arise, stand up, stand. A primitive root; to rise."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1272.htm" title="1272: way·yiḇ·raḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To go through, flee. A primitive root; to bolt, i.e. Figuratively, to flee suddenly.">fled</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: mip·pə·nê (Prep-m:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/7586.htm" title="7586: šā·’ūl (N-proper-ms) -- Passive participle of sha'al; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites.">Saul</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇō (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">and went</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/397.htm" title="397: ’ā·ḵîš (N-proper-ms) -- King of Gath. Of uncertain derivation; Akish, a Philistine king.">Achish</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: me·leḵ (N-msc) -- King. From malak; a king.">king of</a> <a href="/hebrew/1661.htm" title="1661: gaṯ (N-proper-fs) -- Wine press, a Philistine city. The same as gath; Gath, a Philistine city.">Gath.</a> </span><span class="reftext">11</span>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’?”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/56-1.htm">Psalm 56:1-13</a></span><br />For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack. / My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me. / When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/34-1.htm">Psalm 34:1-22</a></span><br />Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, so that the king drove him away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. / My soul boasts in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice. / Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/27-1.htm">1 Samuel 27:1-4</a></span><br />David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” / So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. / David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/18-11.htm">1 Samuel 18:11-12</a></span><br />and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. / So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/19-10.htm">1 Samuel 19:10</a></span><br />Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David eluded him and the spear struck the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/20-1.htm">1 Samuel 20:1</a></span><br />Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/22-1.htm">1 Samuel 22:1</a></span><br />So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/23-12.htm">1 Samuel 23:12-13</a></span><br />So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD. / Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/29-1.htm">1 Samuel 29:1-11</a></span><br />Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. / As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. / Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/15-14.htm">2 Samuel 15:14</a></span><br />And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/25-26.htm">2 Kings 25:26</a></span><br />Then all the people small and great, together with the commanders of the army, arose and fled to Egypt for fear of the Chaldeans.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/20-1.htm">Genesis 20:1-2</a></span><br />Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, / Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-1.htm">Genesis 26:1</a></span><br />Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/2-15.htm">Exodus 2:15</a></span><br />When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/10-1.htm">Joshua 10:1-2</a></span><br />Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them. / So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.</p><p class="hdg">fled</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/27-1.htm">1 Samuel 27:1</a></b></br> And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: <i>there is</i> nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/19-3.htm">1 Kings 19:3</a></b></br> And when he saw <i>that</i>, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which <i>belongeth</i> to Judah, and left his servant there.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/26-21.htm">Jeremiah 26:21</a></b></br> And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;</p><p class="hdg">Achish.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/27-2.htm">1 Samuel 27:2</a></b></br> And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that <i>were</i> with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/34-1.htm">Psalm 34:1</a></b></br> <i>A Psalm</i> of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise <i>shall</i> continually <i>be</i> in my mouth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/7-14.htm">1 Samuel 7:14</a></b></br> And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/17-52.htm">1 Samuel 17:52</a></b></br> And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/11-8.htm">2 Chronicles 11:8</a></b></br> And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_kings/2-40.htm">Achish</a> <a href="/1_samuel/29-9.htm">A'chish</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-9.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-34.htm">Riseth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-42.htm">Rose</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-7.htm">Saul</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/21-11.htm">Achish</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-11.htm">A'chish</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-11.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-13.htm">Riseth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-16.htm">Rose</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-11.htm">Saul</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/21-1.htm">David at Nob obtains Ahimelech's hallowed bread</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/21-7.htm">Doeg is present</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/21-8.htm">David takes Goliath's sword</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/21-10.htm">David at Gath feigns himself insane</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>That day</b><br>This phrase indicates a specific moment in time, emphasizing the urgency and immediacy of David's actions. It follows the events where David, fearing for his life, fled from King Saul. The context is crucial as it highlights the ongoing tension and danger David faced, which is a recurring theme in his life.<p><b>David fled from Saul</b><br>David's flight from Saul is a significant turning point in his life. Saul's jealousy and fear of David's rising popularity and God's favor led to multiple attempts on David's life. This phrase underscores the intense persecution David faced, which is a common experience for many biblical figures who are chosen by God. It also foreshadows the trials and tribulations that David would endure before becoming king.<p><b>and went to Achish king of Gath</b><br>Gath was one of the five major Philistine cities, and Achish was its king. This move is surprising because Gath was the hometown of Goliath, whom David had slain. David's decision to seek refuge in enemy territory reflects his desperation and the complexity of his situation. Historically, this shows the political dynamics of the time, where allegiances could be fluid. Theologically, it can be seen as a test of faith and reliance on God's protection. This event also prefigures Christ's own experiences of rejection and seeking refuge, drawing a parallel between David's life and the life of Jesus.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>The anointed future king of Israel, who is fleeing from King Saul due to Saul's jealousy and intent to kill him. David is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for his faithfulness to God, his psalms, and his eventual kingship.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a></b><br>The first king of Israel, who has become increasingly paranoid and hostile towards David, seeing him as a threat to his throne.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/achish.htm">Achish</a></b><br>The king of Gath, a Philistine city. David seeks refuge with Achish, which is significant given the historical enmity between the Israelites and the Philistines.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/gath.htm">Gath</a></b><br>A Philistine city, known as the hometown of Goliath, whom David famously defeated. David's decision to flee here is both strategic and risky.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/f/fleeing.htm">Fleeing</a></b><br>This event marks a period of David's life where he is on the run, relying on God's guidance and protection while navigating dangerous situations.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_protection.htm">Trust in God's Protection</a></b><br>Despite being in enemy territory, David's life demonstrates reliance on God's protection. Believers can trust God even in seemingly perilous situations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/wisdom_in_decision-making.htm">Wisdom in Decision-Making</a></b><br>David's choice to flee to Gath shows a strategic, albeit risky, decision. Christians are encouraged to seek God's wisdom in making difficult choices.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_adversity.htm">Courage in Adversity</a></b><br>David's actions remind us of the courage required to face adversities. Believers are called to be courageous, knowing God is with them.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>This passage illustrates God's sovereignty in guiding David's life, even through trials. Christians can find comfort in God's control over their circumstances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_fear_and_faith.htm">The Role of Fear and Faith</a></b><br>David's experience in Gath highlights the tension between fear and faith. Believers are encouraged to choose faith over fear, trusting in God's promises.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_linking_psalm_56_to_gath.htm">Is there any archaeological or historical evidence linking David’s words in Psalm 56 specifically to his time in Gath? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_claim_divine_protection_if_david_fled.htm">How can Psalm 56 claim divine protection (Psalm 56:4, 9) when historical sources show David repeatedly endangered and even fleeing for his life? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_we_'taste'_god's_goodness.htm">How can Psalm 34:8 state “taste and see that the Lord is good” when there is no empirical way to measure spiritual experiences? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_achish_accept_david_in_1_sam_29.htm">How can David’s earlier triumphs over the Philistines, such as in 1 Samuel 17, be reconciled with Achish’s acceptance of him in 1 Samuel 29? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(10) <span class= "bld">And David arose and fled�</span>--The cause of this sudden flight was, of course, the fear of Doeg, one of Saul's most trusted servants. Not an hour must be lost, thought David; my deadly foe will hear that I am here, and I shall be trapped like a hunted beast of prey. It seems at first sight strange that David should dare to go among the Philistines, who had such good cause to hate and fear him, but the son of Jesse ever thought lightly of himself, and had no idea that his person was so well known, or his story so generally current as it subsequently proved to be. (See <a href="/1_samuel/21-11.htm" title="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 slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?">1Samuel 21:11</a>.) Of David's humility, so conspicuously exhibited on this occasion, when he ventured among his foes, not dreaming how great a personage they considered him, the Babylonian Talmud strikingly writes:--"No man in Israel despised himself more than David where the precepts of the Lord were concerned, and this is what he said before God (<a href="/context/psalms/131-1.htm" title="Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.">Psalm 131:1-2</a>), 'Lord, my heart was not haughty when Samuel anointed me king, nor were mine eyes lofty <span class= "ital">when I slew Goliath </span>. . . as a child . . . have I likened myself before Thee in not being ashamed to depreciate myself before Thee for Thy glory.'"--Treatise <span class= "ital">Bamidbar, </span>chap 4.<p><span class= "bld">Achish the king of Gath.</span>--The title "king" is somewhat loosely used in this scene among the Philistines. Achish was one of the Philistine lords, perhaps the hereditary lord of Gath. Achish is called Abimelech in the title of Psalms 34, that apparently being the title, the "nomen dignitatis," of the hereditary (or elected) chief among the Philistines, like Agag among the Amalekites. It is quite possible that this Achish, although called king of Gath, was the supreme chief or king of the Philistine nation. Gath was the nearest Philistine city to the sanctuary of Nob where David then was.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">David arose and fled that day.</span> The presence of Doeg at Nob was a most untoward circumstance; and though David could never have anticipated that Saul would visit upon the priests the unwitting assistance they had given him with such barbarous ferocity, yet he must have felt sure that an active pursuit would be at once instituted against himself. He therefore took a most unwise and precipitate step, but one which clearly shows the greatness of the danger to which he was exposed. For he flees to Achish, king of Gath, the first town upon the Philistine border, at the mouth of the valley of Elah (see on 1 Samuel 17:3). Achish is called Abimelech in the title of <a href="/psalms/34.htm">Psalm 34</a>, written by David in grateful commemoration of his escape, that being the official title of the kings of Gath handed down through many successive centuries (see <a href="/genesis/26-1.htm">Genesis 26:1</a>). It has been objected that nothing could be more improbable than that David, the conqueror of Goliath, should seek refuge with a Philistine lord, and that this is nothing more than a popular tale, which has grown out of the real fact recorded in ch. 27. But when men are in desperate straits they take wild resolutions, and this meeting with Doeg, just after he had broken down with grief (<a href="/1_samuel/20-41.htm">1 Samuel 20:41</a>), evidently put David to his wits' end. As, moreover, Saul was degenerating into a cruel tyrant, desertions may have become not uncommon, and though only three or four years can have elapsed since the battle of Elah, as David was only about twenty-four years of age at Saul's death, yet the change from a boyish stripling to a bearded man was enough to make it possible that David might not be recognised. As for Goliath's sword, we have seen that it was not remarkable for its size, and was probably of the ordinary pattern imported from Greece. Even if recognised, Achish might welcome him as a deserter from Saul, the great enemy of the Philistines; for as a deserter never received pardon or mercy, he must now use his prowess to the very utmost against Saul. Finally, the historical truth of the narrative is vouched for by <a href="/psalms/34.htm">Psalm 34</a>, and the details are all different from those in ch. 27. David there is a powerful chieftain with a large following of trained soldiers, and feels so secure that he takes his wives with him; he asks for some place in which to reside, and occupies himself in continual forays. Here he is in the utmost distress, has no trained band of soldiers, and goes well nigh mad with mental anguish. And this is in exact keeping with that extreme excitement to which David was a prey in his last interview with Jonathan (<a href="/1_samuel/20-41.htm">1 Samuel 20:41</a>); and only in his first grief at Saul's cruel bitterness would his mind have been so affected, and his conduct so rash. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/21-10.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">That</span><br /><span class="heb">הַה֖וּא</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">day</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּיּוֹם־</span> <span class="translit">(bay·yō·wm-)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">David</span><br /><span class="heb">דָּוִ֔ד</span> <span class="translit">(dā·wiḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1732.htm">Strong's 1732: </a> </span><span class="str2">David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fled</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּבְרַ֥ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiḇ·raḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1272.htm">Strong's 1272: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bolt, to flee suddenly</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="heb">מִפְּנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(mip·pə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Saul</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁא֑וּל</span> <span class="translit">(šā·’ūl)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7586.htm">Strong's 7586: </a> </span><span class="str2">Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and went</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּבֹ֕א</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·ḇō)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Achish</span><br /><span class="heb">אָכִ֖ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḵîš)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_397.htm">Strong's 397: </a> </span><span class="str2">Achish -- king of Gath</span><br /><br /><span class="word">king of</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶ֥לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Gath.</span><br /><span class="heb">גַּֽת׃</span> <span class="translit">(gaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1661.htm">Strong's 1661: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gath -- 'wine press', a Philistine city</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/21-10.htm">1 Samuel 21:10 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/21-10.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 21:10 David arose and fled that day (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/21-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 21:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 21:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/21-11.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 21:11"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 21:11" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>