Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 21:13. It's a really dramatic and unsettling passage about a man named Eliyah and his son, Saul. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Eliyah is being questioned by Saul: The verse tells us that Eliyah was being questioned by Saul, who was a powerful and ambitious king. He's being put on trial: Saul wanted to know why Eliyah was acting strangely. He thought he was being tricked or manipulated. He’s pretending to be crazy: Eliyah started to act like he was crazy. He made wild gestures, scratched at the doors of his house, and let out a lot of spittle (a kind of saliva). What it means – The Symbolism: This passage isn't just about Eliyah being a mad person; it’s a powerful symbol of dishonesty and deception. It represents: A false appearance: Eliyah was trying to appear crazy, but he wasn't really. He was trying to mislead Saul. A tactic of manipulation: Saul was using this behavior to try and get to Eliyah without confronting him directly. He was playing a game with his king. The Significance in the Bible: This is a key moment in the story of Samuel, who ultimately becomes King David’s father. It shows that even seemingly harmless behaviors can be used to hide a larger scheme. The verse highlights the importance of honesty and truthfulness – because deception can have serious consequences. Essentially, it's a warning about the dangers of being deceptive and the need for genuine character. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible passage? Discuss the context of this verse within the larger story of Samuel?