1 Samuel 21:12-15 - David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he feigned insanity in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?"
I wonder if David appeared normal to Achish and company at first but then suddenly "snapped" and foamed at the mouth. I wonder how good his acting really was, or if his audience was just easily fooled. (I love Achish's comment about needing more madmen. Zing!)
It seems David was alone; that is, none of his followers were with him when he went to Achish. I wonder why he went to a city that was really controlled by Israel's enemy. Surely he could have found some place more friendly. Then again, perhaps he thought, "Any enemy of Saul is a friend of mine," and was surprised by the Gathites reaction to his visit.
I wonder what David used to make the marks on the doors. Did he scratch with his fingernails? Carve with Goliath's sword? (Would they have let him keep it?) Add graffiti with the Old Testament Canaanite equivalent of a can of spray paint?
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