1 Samuel 22 6

1 Samuel 22:6 kjv

When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)

1 Samuel 22:6 nkjv

When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered?now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him?

1 Samuel 22:6 niv

Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side.

1 Samuel 22:6 esv

Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.

1 Samuel 22:6 nlt

The news of his arrival in Judah soon reached Saul. At the time, the king was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers.

1 Samuel 22 verses

1 Samuel 22 6 Meaning

1 Samuel 22:6 portrays King Saul's paranoid state as he learns of David's whereabouts and the growing number of men with him. It sets the scene for his subsequent outburst, depicting him holding his spear, a symbol of his power and violent disposition, while sitting in his capital, Gibeah, surrounded by his fearful servants. This verse underscores the extreme tension and Saul's deteriorating leadership, driven by a jealous and resentful spirit against God's anointed successor, David.

1 Samuel 22 6 Context

1 Samuel 22 details Saul's descent into full-blown paranoia and tyrannical rule. Having already sought to kill David multiple times (1 Sam 18-19) and pursued him after the Gath episode (1 Sam 21), Saul learns David is now gathering a significant number of followers (1 Sam 22:1-2). This news further inflames Saul's obsession, leading him to believe in a grand conspiracy against his kingship. The setting in Gibeah, Saul's capital, under a tamarisk tree on a high place, underscores his public authority, yet his posture (spear in hand) reveals his deep insecurity and readiness for violence. This verse serves as the immediate precursor to Saul's explosive accusation against his servants, whom he suspects of disloyalty because they do not alert him to David's "conspiracy." Historically, Gibeah was Saul's tribal city (Benjamin) and served as his royal seat, distinguishing his rule from later kings who would reign from Jerusalem.

1 Samuel 22 6 Word analysis

• And Saul (וְשָׁאוּל – v’Sha’ul): The proper noun for Israel's first king, indicating the shift in narrative focus back to him and his immediate reaction. Saul’s name, meaning “asked” or “prayed for,” ironically contrasts with his rejection by God despite the people's initial request for a king (1 Sam 8).
• heard (שָׁמַע – shama'): Denotes active listening and comprehension, suggesting that the news about David was clear and had registered deeply with Saul, prompting a strong internal and external response. It is a recurring verb indicating receiving important information in the narrative.
• that David was discovered (כִּי נוֹדַע דָּוִד – ki nodha' David): Nodha' is the Niphal (passive) form of yada' (to know), meaning "it was made known" or "he was revealed/discovered." This doesn't imply David was perfectly hidden but rather that his whereabouts, and perhaps his growing influence, were now publicly or significantly known to Saul, confirming his fears.
• and the men who were with him: This emphasizes the collective strength David was accumulating, shifting David from a lone fugitive to a potential leader with followers (compare 1 Sam 22:1-2, where 400 men are mentioned, and 1 Sam 23:13, where 600 men are noted). This rising number fuels Saul's paranoia of a rival kingdom.
• Now Saul was sitting (וְשָׁאוּל יֹשֵׁב – v'Sha'ul yoshev): "Sitting" implies a position of authority and repose, typical of a ruler receiving counsel or administering justice. However, the subsequent details (spear in hand) twist this posture into one of tense, agitated power, rather than serene judgment.
• in Gibeah (בַּגִּבְעָה – baGib’ah): Saul's capital city, from which he ruled. Its name means "hill," characteristic of its topography. Gibeah was previously known for the extreme depravity of its inhabitants (Jdg 19-20), hinting at a moral decay now found in its king.
• under the tamarisk tree (תַּחַת הָאֶשֶׁל – tachat ha'eshel): The tamarisk is a desert shrub/tree, providing sparse shade. Abraham planted a tamarisk in Beer-sheba (Gen 21:33), often seen as a place of refuge or public gathering. Here, it functions as a recognizable landmark or perhaps a designated outdoor council place for Saul, indicating a somewhat informal, yet publicly visible, session.
• on the high place (בָּרָמָה – baramah): Refers to an elevated or prominent topographical feature. While bamah often refers to a cultic "high place" associated with idol worship, here it likely just means a strategic, elevated point within Gibeah, suitable for gathering or holding court. This highlights the public and authoritative nature of Saul’s posture.
• with his spear in his hand (וַחֲנִיתוֹ בְיָדוֹ – vachaniytho v'yado): The spear (chanith) is a hallmark of Saul's rule. He is frequently depicted with it (e.g., 1 Sam 18:10; 19:9; 20:33; 26:7), symbolizing not justice or righteous authority but personal aggression, paranoia, and his readiness to exert violent control. It acts as an extension of his unstable personality and the antithesis of a shepherd's staff.
• and all his servants standing around him: This indicates a king in his court, surrounded by his retinue, suggesting royal status and control. However, the ensuing verses reveal their fear and hesitation to respond to Saul, illustrating the oppressive atmosphere his paranoid rule has created for those under him. This contrast emphasizes Saul's isolation despite being surrounded.

1 Samuel 22 6 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "high place" (בָּרָמָה - baramah) used here is not the common cultic "high place" (bamah), which would suggest pagan worship, but rather a more general term for an elevated area within Gibeah. However, Saul's unholy actions unfolding on this elevated platform, even if not a cultic high place, implicitly raise questions about the integrity of his reign and his spiritual state. The "tamarisk tree" is notable for its deep root system, allowing it to survive in arid conditions. This perhaps provides a subtle irony: while the tree endures, Saul's kingdom, by contrast, is rapidly withering due to his rejection of God and his obsessive hatred for David, the rightful heir. Saul's spear, a constant feature of his person (present even at his death, 2 Sam 1:6), stands in stark contrast to the true power symbol of David's future kingdom: reliance on God alone, not human weaponry.

1 Samuel 22 6 Commentary

1 Samuel 22:6 is a critical pivot in the narrative of Saul's reign, marking his utter descent into paranoid tyranny. It visually and contextually sets the stage for Saul's irrational accusations and the escalating violence characteristic of his final years. The scene of Saul, the king of Israel, "sitting" as if in judgment, yet with a "spear in his hand" rather than a scepter of peace or staff of a shepherd, reveals the profound dysfunction of his kingship. His spear is not merely an emblem of authority but an instrument of personal vengeance and fear-mongering, ready to be hurled at perceived enemies, real or imagined. This imagery powerfully communicates the psychological state of a king who has abandoned God's will and surrendered to his own envy and fear. The silence and passivity of his surrounding servants, revealed in subsequent verses, underscore the oppressive environment Saul had cultivated, where even loyalty was insufficient to protect one from suspicion. This verse highlights the danger of leadership unchecked by righteousness and consumed by selfish ambition.