1 Samuel 22 8

1 Samuel 22:8 kjv

That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that showeth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or showeth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

1 Samuel 22:8 nkjv

All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day."

1 Samuel 22:8 niv

Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today."

1 Samuel 22:8 esv

that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day."

1 Samuel 22:8 nlt

Is that why you have conspired against me? For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You're not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son ? encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!"

1 Samuel 22 verses

1 Samuel 22 8 Meaning

1 Samuel 22:8 records King Saul's embittered complaint to his servants in Gibeah. He expresses profound distrust and self-pity, accusing his own retainers of conspiring against him by withholding information about David's activities and allegiance with the son of Jesse (David). Saul views their silence and perceived loyalty to David, rather than himself, as an act of treason. This statement reveals the depth of his paranoia and fear concerning David, believing that his entire household, even his son Jonathan, is conspiring against him, and that none of his servants feels empathy for his plight or warns him of impending danger from David.

1 Samuel 22 8 Context

1 Samuel 22:8 is set during a turbulent period in Saul's reign, specifically after his anointing has been withdrawn and David has been anointed as the future king (1 Sam 16). Saul is consumed by jealousy and paranoia regarding David, whom he perceives as a threat to his throne. David has recently fled from Saul, seeking refuge and gathering discontented men around him at the cave of Adullam (1 Sam 22:1-2). Saul, now at Gibeah under a tamarisk tree, expresses his deep suspicion that his servants are conspiring against him by not disclosing David's whereabouts or any supposed plot. His speech is laden with self-pity, implying he believes no one genuinely cares for his well-being or the stability of his kingdom. This emotional state ultimately leads him to command the massacre of the priests of Nob, showcasing the deadly consequences of his escalating distrust.

1 Samuel 22 8 Word analysis

• And Saul (וְשָׁאוּל – vəshā’ūl): Connects to the preceding events. Saul is still the reigning king, but his authority is challenged internally by his own volatile state.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר – vayyōmer): Simple verb, but its context is one of accusation and distress.
• to his servants (לַעֲבָדָיו – la‘ăḇādāw): Implies those who should be loyal and supportive of the king, highlighting the severity of his accusation.
• who stood (הַנִּצָּבִים – hannīṣṣāḇīm): Indicating their dutiful posture before him, a stark contrast to his accusations of disloyalty.
• about him (עָלָיו – ‘ālāw): Close proximity emphasizes his perception of being surrounded by potential enemies among his closest attendants.
• "Hear now (שִׁמְעוּ־נָא – šim‘û-nā’): A strong imperative, demanding immediate attention and obedience. "Nā’" adds a plea or urging.
• you Benjaminites (בְנֵי יְמִינִי – ḇənê yəmînî): A direct address to his kinsmen from his own tribe. Saul likely expects heightened loyalty from them. This also highlights his sense of isolation as he implies that even his own tribe has abandoned him.
• Will the son of Jesse (הֲגַם לְכֻלְּכֶם בֶּן־יִשַׁי – hagam ləkhulkhem ben-yishay): The use of "son of Jesse" instead of David is a derogatory way to diminish David's royal standing or lineage, reducing him to a common man. "Hagam" (also, even) suggests he believes their universal complicity.
• give every one of you (יִתֵּן לָכֶם – yittēn lākhem): Implying that David has offered or will offer tangible rewards. This reveals Saul's assumption of venal motivations in others.
• fields and vineyards (שָׂדוֹת וּכְרָמִים – śādôt ūkhərāmîm): Standard examples of valuable land, implying permanent wealth and inheritance, suggesting David would establish a new dynasty that rewards his supporters. This connects to how kings established their rule and rewarded their loyalists.
• Will he make you all (לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶתְכֶם כֻּלְּכֶם – la‘ăśôt ’et̄kem kulkhem): Further emphasis on the totality of David's supposed influence.
• commanders of thousands (שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים – śārê ’ălāfîm): High military positions, implying significant power and prestige.
• and commanders of hundreds (וְשָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת – vəśārê mē’ôt): Lesser but still significant military leadership roles. These promises mirror those Saul himself could grant, underscoring his perceived competition.
• For you have all conspired against me (כִּי־קְשַׁרְתֶּם כֻּלְּכֶם עָלַי – kî-qəšarttem kulkhem ‘ālay): "Qəšarttem" (from qāšar) explicitly means 'to conspire' or 'to bind together,' a serious accusation of treason. "Kulkhem" (all of you) highlights his comprehensive distrust.
• and there is none (וְאֵין קִמְכֶם גֹּלֶה אֶל־אָזְנִי – və’ên qimkem gōleh ’el-’āznî): This phrase uses "qimkem" (of you, among you), often translated as 'none of you,' suggesting a total absence of a single loyal informant. The literal meaning of "gōleh ’el-’oznî" is "revealer to my ear," meaning to disclose secret information. It signifies his frustration that no one warns him of David's supposed plots. This phrase emphasizes total complicity by silence.
• when my son (וּבִכְרִיתִי – ūvikhrītī): Specifically Jonathan, his direct heir. This is a dramatic escalation, suggesting his own family heir is disloyal. Saul distorts Jonathan’s actions, mistaking loyal friendship for conspiracy.
• made a covenant (בֶּרִית – bərît): A solemn agreement, highlighting the strength of Jonathan and David's bond (1 Sam 18:3, 20:8, 20:16-17). Saul views this sacred bond as an act of treason against him.
• with the son of Jesse (עִם־בֶּן־יִשַׁי – ‘im-ben-yishay): Again, the derogatory term for David.
• and there is none of you (וְאֵין־קִמְכֶם מִתְחַמֵּם עָלַי – və’ên-qimkem mitḥammēm ‘ālay): "Mitḥammēm" from ḥamam, meaning 'to be hot,' or 'to be warm/pitying.' So, "none of you feels warm towards me" or "none of you shows concern for me." It expresses Saul's feeling of utter abandonment and lack of sympathy.
• or tells me (וְגֹלֶה אֶת־אָזְנִי – vəḡōleh ’et̄-’āznî): Repetition of the idea of revealing to his ear, emphasizing the desired information.
• that my son has stirred up (כִּי־הֵקִים בְּנִי – kî-hēqîm bənî): Accusation that Jonathan caused David's hostility. Saul believes Jonathan is instigating, not merely supporting David.
• my servant (עַבְדִּי – ‘avdî): Refers to David. Ironically, David had been Saul's most loyal servant. Now Saul paints him as a traitor.
• against me (עָלָי – ‘ālāy): Against Saul.
• to lie in wait (לְאֹרֵב – lə’ōrēḇ): To ambush, implying an active, hostile plot against him. Saul's projection of his own murderous intentions onto David.
• as it is this day (כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה – kayyōm hazzeh): Emphasizing the immediate, present danger he perceives, further highlighting his heightened anxiety and delusion.

Words-group analysis

• "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?": This phrase reveals Saul's perception that David's growing support is based solely on material and political gain, appealing to their avarice rather than genuine loyalty or conviction. Saul projects his own worldly view of power onto David and his followers. This is also a form of polemic, suggesting that loyalty, for Saul, is always mercenary, not spiritual or personal devotion.
• "For you have all conspired against me, and there is none of you who discloses to my ear when my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse": This group of words underscores Saul's deep-seated paranoia. The word "conspired" (קְשַׁרְתֶּם - qāšar) is severe, usually indicating a rebellious plot against a king (e.g., Absalom in 2 Sam 15:12, Zimri in 1 Kgs 16:20). He believes his own family is betraying him, driven by their supposed greed for David's promised rewards. Saul's belief in a complete lack of revelation (lit. "none revealing to my ear") from his trusted advisors shows his complete isolation. This contrasts sharply with actual Biblical examples of loyal advisors (e.g., Hushai in 2 Sam 16-17).
• "and there is none of you who is sorry for me or tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as it is this day.": This highlights Saul's self-pity and his distorted view of reality. He views the absence of informers as a lack of compassion for him. The accusation that Jonathan "stirred up" David shows Saul reversing the true aggressor. He fails to see his own violent pursuit of David; instead, he claims David is "lying in wait" for him, portraying David as the orchestrator of an ambush, an active threat, when in fact David consistently flees and respects Saul's anointing.

1 Samuel 22 8 Bonus section

• Hebrew Language Nuance: The repeated phrase "none... or tells me" emphasizes a complete dearth of supposed loyalty, using a strong negative construct ("וְאֵין קִמְכֶם" - ve'ein kimkhem) which implies a universal failure to comply with his unstated demands for information. The choice of mitḥammēm ("warm oneself," hence "to have sympathy") further expresses Saul's feeling of utter coldness and abandonment.
• Polemics: Saul's words implicitly critique or challenge the true nature of loyalty, contrasting a conditional, self-serving loyalty (what he expects, or projects onto others' motives with David) against the true covenant loyalty of David to Jonathan, and Jonathan to David (a loyalty born of spiritual kinship and respect for God's plan, rather than mere personal gain or power). Saul's fear of 'hidden knowledge' among his servants stands in contrast to divine omniscience, illustrating his lack of trust in God's control.
• Royal Expectations: Ancient Near Eastern kings typically had informers and an extensive intelligence network to maintain power. Saul is essentially complaining that this system has failed him, indicative of a larger breakdown of order and trust in his court, a symptom of his fading legitimate authority and rising tyranny. His complaint highlights the fundamental breach between a king and his court when paranoia takes hold.

1 Samuel 22 8 Commentary

1 Samuel 22:8 vividly portrays the tragic descent of King Saul into paranoia and self-pity, driven by his jealousy and an unyielded spirit that resisted God's counsel. Stripped of divine favor due to his disobedience, Saul loses the discernment and trust necessary for good governance. He views every interaction, even a close bond between his son Jonathan and David, through a lens of suspicion and conspiracy. His bitter accusation to his loyal Benjamite servants reveals his isolation; he perceives betrayal everywhere, not understanding that his own actions, rather than David's, have created his predicament. The specific details of land and military positions reflect his assumption that others are motivated by the very earthly power and status he himself craves, contrasting sharply with David's loyalty which was founded on respect for God's anointed, not personal ambition against Saul. Saul’s words are a desperate cry for validation, a sign of his broken spirit, and a precursor to the terrible act against the priests of Nob which immediately follows.