With these wounds he placed himself in the king's path, and disguised himself (יִתְחַפֵּשׂ as in 1Sa 28:8) by a bandage over his eyes. אֲפֵר does not mean ashes (Syr., Vulg., Luth., etc.), but corresponds to the Chaldee מַעְפָרָא, head-band, τελαμών (lxx).