1 Samuel 21:11
“The servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David the king of the land? Didn’t they sing to one another about him in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’””
What does 1 Samuel 21:11 mean?
The servants of the Philistine king Achish recognize David and remind their king of his fame. They reference a song the Israelites used to sing celebrating David's military victories, which had made him more celebrated than King Saul. This moment happens when David is desperately fleeing from Saul and has come to enemy territory seeking refuge, which is a sign of how hunted and unsafe he feels in his own land. The servants' recognition puts David in immediate danger, which is why he pretends to be insane in the next moment to protect himself from the Philistine king.