<HTML>Da'at Sofrim asks why Dovid ran away to Achish.
1) He did not identify himself to them. He arrived anonymously. Rather,
it was normal for Jews to pass through the P'lishtim, often to get their
weapons sharpened.=20
2) Even though he had just killed Goliat a few months earlier, he was
hoping that it would not be held against him because Goliat was killed in
battle, and Goliat himself was the challenger - he asked for someone to
come fight him.
3) There is another possibility if they do recognize him. He was
confident that once he told them he was running from King Shaul, they
would see him as their ally in overthrowing Shaul. Although he would not
betray Shaul, this would provide him with a safe haven. In Perek 27 he
actually follows through with this plan.
4) My own explanation is that he may have thought that Eretz Haplishtim
was the last place King Shaul would think to look for him! There is also
nowhere else for him to go.
Rochel Leah Kosofsky
Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy
Longmeadow, MA</HTML>
