1 Samuel 22 7

1 Samuel 22:7 kjv

Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

1 Samuel 22:7 nkjv

then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, "Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?

1 Samuel 22:7 niv

He said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?

1 Samuel 22:7 esv

And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, "Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds,

1 Samuel 22:7 nlt

"Listen here, you men of Benjamin!" Saul shouted to his officers when he heard the news. "Has that son of Jesse promised every one of you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you all generals and captains in his army?

1 Samuel 22 verses

1 Samuel 22 7 Meaning

In 1 Samuel 22:7, King Saul confronts his personal attendants, specifically those from his own tribe of Benjamin, questioning their loyalty. His words are a direct accusation and an attempt to incite them against David. Saul implies that David, whom he disparagingly calls "the son of Jesse," lacks the authority or means to bestow material wealth (fields and vineyards) or positions of power (commanders of thousands and hundreds) upon them, unlike Saul himself. This reveals Saul's paranoia, his misperception of David's intentions, and his reliance on worldly incentives to secure allegiance, contrasting sharply with the divine basis of kingship.

1 Samuel 22 7 Context

Chapter 22 of 1 Samuel finds David as a fugitive, fleeing from King Saul, who is relentless in his pursuit. David has gathered a diverse group of distressed, indebted, and discontented men at the cave of Adullam (v. 1-2). He then seeks refuge for his parents in Moab and eventually, by prophetic guidance, settles in the forest of Hereth (v. 3-5). Back in Gibeah, Saul is sitting under a tamarisk tree, armed with his spear, surrounded by his loyal Benjamite servants (v. 6). This immediate setting reveals Saul's entrenched position, his military readiness, and his deep suspicion. The verse specifically marks a turning point where Saul, consumed by paranoia and fear, overtly accuses his own trusted inner circle of conspiracy with David, using an appeal to their tribal loyalty and material self-interest as leverage. He perceives David as a usurper seeking to gain adherents by promising wealth and power, believing his own Benjamite servants would naturally side with him over an outsider like David, son of Jesse.

1 Samuel 22 7 Word analysis

• And Saul said to his servants who stood about him,: This immediately sets a tense scene. "Servants" ('ăḇādāw) implies direct, personal attendants, often bodyguards, from whom loyalty would be expected. Their posture, "stood about him," signifies their closeness and readiness for his command, yet he suspects their faithfulness.
• 'Hear now,: This is an imperative command, Shim'u-na (שִׁמְעוּ־נָא). It demands immediate attention and signifies a moment of urgent revelation or accusation from the king.
• you Benjamites!: Saul's specific address to "Benjamites" (benê Yəminî, "sons of Benjamin") highlights his attempt to leverage tribal loyalty. He himself was a Benjamite, appealing to shared kinship as a basis for allegiance against David from another tribe. This shows his limited and earthly understanding of authority, appealing to human ties rather than God's chosen king.
• Will the son of Jesse: Saul contemptuously refers to David as "the son of Jesse" (ben Yishai), deliberately omitting David's name and title (e.g., commander or anointee). This is a derogatory, dismissive term, highlighting David's humble, non-royal origins. It minimizes David's legitimacy and the divine anointing upon him, portraying him merely as a common individual with no authority.
• give every one of you fields and vineyards?: This rhetorical question highlights Saul's accusation that David cannot provide what Saul supposedly can. "Fields and vineyards" (śāḍôṯ wəkərāmîm) represent land ownership, agricultural prosperity, and secure livelihood—the foundations of wealth in that society. Saul's implication is that David lacks the resources or the authority to redistribute royal property, suggesting only he, as king, possesses this power.
• Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?: This second rhetorical question extends Saul's line of thought to positions of power and prestige. "Commanders of thousands" (śārê ălāp̄îm) and "commanders of hundreds" (śārê mē’ôṯ) refer to military or administrative ranks, signifying social status, income, and influence. Saul again asserts that only he, the current king, can bestow such high offices, implying David lacks the power to appoint loyal followers to such positions.

• "Hear now, you Benjamites!": This opening reveals Saul's deteriorating state. His desperate appeal to his own tribe for loyalty against an "outsider" (David) shows his loss of legitimate authority and his descent into suspicion of even his closest circles. It underlines his reliance on human, tribal bonds rather than divine favor or justice.
• Saul's rhetorical questions ("Will the son of Jesse give... Will he make...?"): These are manipulative. Saul poses questions not for genuine inquiry but to instill doubt, fear, and a sense of threat against David. He assumes his servants are motivated solely by personal gain, projecting his own secular understanding of kingship onto them.
• "fields and vineyards" and "commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds": These twin promises, tangible wealth and political/military power, reflect the transactional nature of Saul's worldview regarding loyalty and kingship. He believes allegiance is bought and maintained through material incentives and appointments, rather than earned through righteousness or divine blessing. This is a stark contrast to God's method of choosing leaders based on heart and obedience.

1 Samuel 22 7 Bonus section

This verse can be seen as an indirect polemic against rulers who rely on human schemes and bribery rather than divine justice or anointing to govern. Saul’s worldview is starkly contrasted with the reality of God’s sovereignty over the appointment of kings and the distribution of wealth and power, themes present throughout the Old Testament. Furthermore, the desperation in Saul’s tone foreshadows the ultimate failure of a kingship based on human manipulation rather than obedience to God. His specific targeting of the Benjamites, appealing to shared tribal identity, also indicates the declining national unity under his rule, emphasizing a shift from a united kingdom under God's king to a fragmented state defined by tribal loyalties. This demonstrates how fear can cause a leader to undermine the very people meant to support them.

1 Samuel 22 7 Commentary

King Saul, a king once chosen by God but now increasingly self-centered and disobedient, demonstrates profound paranoia and a decaying leadership. His address to his Benjamite guards reveals a deep fear that his closest associates are secretly aligned with David. He perceives David as a threat not merely to his throne but to his capacity to bestow gifts and power, a prerogative Saul believes solely belongs to him. This verse paints a picture of a king who has lost sight of divine authority, relying instead on worldly appeals—material possessions and military promotions—to maintain his grip on power. Saul's words expose his own warped understanding of kingship: that loyalty is purchased, not earned, and that success is measured by who can distribute the most worldly gain. This also highlights Saul's spiritual bankruptcy, unable to discern the true source of David's strength and God's hand upon him. His manipulative tactic underscores a leader consumed by envy, distrust, and a desire to control.