1 Samuel 21:10David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
The setting
The road to Gath, Philistine territory, ~1020 BC. David walks toward the city of his people's enemies, carrying Goliath's sword - into the hometown of the giant he killed...
The emotion here: documenting the tragedy of God's anointed king living like a fugitive
The original word
barach (בָּרַח) — to flee in terror, like a bird escaping a trap
Why it matters
Gath was Goliath's hometown - David was seeking refuge among the family of the giant he had killed
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 21:10
David is so desperate he's fleeing to his enemies - the very people who want him dead for killing their champion
Common misconceptionPeople think David was being strategic, but he was actually making a terrible choice born of panic - seeking help from people who wanted to kill him.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 21:10
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 21:10 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 21:10 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include fear, escape. Notable phrases: fled that day; for fear of Saul.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 21:10 mean to you, today?
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