1-samuel 21:15
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Have I need of mad men, that you have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
American King James Version (AKJV)
Have I need of mad men, that you have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
American Standard Version (ASV)
Do I lack madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Are there not enough unbalanced men about me, that you have let this person come and do such tricks before me? is such a man to come into my house?
Webster's Revision
Have I need of mad-men, that ye have brought this man to play the mad-man in my presence? shall this man come into my house?
World English Bible
Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"
English Revised Version (ERV)
Do I lack mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
Clarke's 1-samuel 21:15 Bible Commentary
Shall this fellow come into my house? - I will not take into my service a man who is liable to so grievous a disease. Chandler, who vindicates David's feigning himself, mad, concludes thus: "To deceive the deceiver is in many instances meritorious, in none criminal. And what so likely to deceive as the very reverse of that character which they had so misconstrued? He was undone as a wise man, he had a chance to escape as a madman; he tried, and the experiment succeeded." I confess I can neither feel the force nor the morality of this. Deceit and hypocrisy can never be pleasing in the sight of God.
Wesley's 1-samuel 21:15 Bible Commentary
21:15 Mad men - It is highly probable, Achish was aware, that this madness was counterfeit. But being desirous to preserve David, he speaks as if he thought it real.
