1 Samuel 21:13

“And he changed his behaviour before them, etc.] Behaved like a fool, or a madman: or changed his “taste” f445; which some understand of his reason, acted as if he was deprived of it; and others of his speech, his words and the accent of them, drawled them out, as such persons do: and feigned himself mad in their hands; for in their hands he was, being taken by them, as the title of the fifty sixth psalm shows, (<195601>Psalm 56:1); and this stratagem he used to get himself out of their hands, acting the part of a madman, delirious, and out of his senses: and scrabbled on the doors of the gate; as if he was writing something there, and making marks upon them: and let his spittle fall down…”

“feigned himself mad--It is supposed to have been an attack of epilepsy, real or perhaps only pretended. This disease is relieved by foaming at the mouth. let his spittle fall down upon his beard--No wonder that Achish supposed him insane, as such an indignity, whether done by another, or one's self, to the beard, is considered in the East an intolerable insult. Next: 1 Samuel Chapter 22”

“Scrabbled - literally, made marks (margin), namely, the mark of the “tau” (t), which in the ancient Hebrew and Phoenician was in the shape of a cross. (See Ezekiel 9:4.) On the doors of the gate - The gate of Achish’s palace-yard or court, in which the attendants waited. The house itself stood in this court. (Compare Esther 2:19, Esther 2:21.) return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on 1 Samuel 21". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/1-samuel-21.html. 1870. StudyLight.org &copy;&#160;2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“changed: Psa 34:1 \*title Pro 29:25; Ecc 7:7 scrabbled: or, made marks 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 21:14”