And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
And he changed his behaviour, х wayªshanow (H8138) 'et (H854) Ta`ªmow (H2940)] - and disfigured his understanding (Gesenius).
And feigned himself mad, х wayitholeel (H1984)] - and acted the madman.
In their hands. He had been seized and made prisoner by the Philistine nobles in Gath, as appears from the title to Psalms 56:1-13.
And scrabbled, х wayªtaayw (H8427)] - and made marks, scrawled on the doors of the gate, in the manner of mischievous boys (Gesenius).
And let his spittle fall down upon his beard. An indignity to the beard, whether done by another or by one's self, is considered in the East an intolerable insult; and no wonder, therefore, that the disgusting defilement of it which was committed by David, and allowed to remain unwiped away, was alone sufficient to convince Achish that he was insane.