("madness".) The Easterners regard madmen with a superstitious reverence, as idolatrous worshippers seemed, and true worshippers were really, rapt out of themselves by divine inspiration (1 Kings 18:26; 1 Kings 18:28; 1 Samuel 19:21-24). Hence arose the contemptuous sneer as to Jesus (John 10:20), "He hath a devil and is mad"; also the designation "mad fellow" applied to the prophet who anointed Jehu (2 Kings 9:11), and to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:26), and to Paul (Acts 26:24-25). David availed himself of this half reverential, half-contemptuous forbearance toward madmen, to save himself at Achish's court by feigning madness (1 Samuel 21:13-15).
From the co-author of the classic Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, Fausset's Bible Dictionary stands as one of the best single-volume Bible encyclopedias ever written for general use. The author's writing style is always clear and concise, and he tackles issues important to the average student of the Bible, not just the Biblical scholars. This makes Fausset an excellent tool for both everyday Bible study and in-depth lesson or sermon preparation.Wikipedia
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