10 Then David left and continued moving to distance himself from Sha’ul, and he went to King Akish of Gat. 11 But Akish’s servants complained to him, “Isn’t that David who’ll become king of Israel? Isn’t he the one they sing about when they dance, chanting, ‘Sha’ul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?’ ”[ref]

12 David listened to those words without any reaction because he was very afraid of what King Akish might do,[ref] 13 so he changed his behaviour when he was with them and pretended to be insane. He scratched on wooden doors and let his saliva dribble down his beard.[ref] 14 Then King Akish complained to his servants, “Look, that man’s insane. Why did you all bring him to me? 15 Don’t I already have enough madmen around here—why add another? Must that man come into my house?”