King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 22:7 Mean?

1 Samuel 22:7 in the King James Version says “Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of ... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 22 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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 · KJV


Context

5

And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

6

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;) tree: or, grove in a high place

7

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;

8

That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth 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 sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? sheweth: Heb. uncovereth mine ear

9

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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;

Saul's appeal to tribal loyalty reveals his political strategy and insecurity. The Hebrew 'shimu-na' (hear now) demands attention for his accusation. By addressing his servants as 'Benjamites,' he invokes tribal solidarity against the Judahite David. His rhetorical question about 'fields and vineyards' appeals to economic self-interest—David, from small-town Bethlehem, could not match the patronage Saul provided. The military ranks mentioned ('captains of thousands and hundreds') represented the rewards Saul had distributed to his fellow Benjamites. This speech exposes a king who maintained loyalty through bribes rather than justice, and who viewed the throne as tribal property rather than divine trust.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern kingship involved extensive patronage networks. Saul's appeal to Benjamite tribalism reflects the ongoing tribal tensions within early Israel. Land grants and military appointments were primary means of securing loyalty in pre-monarchic and early monarchic Israel.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do leaders manipulate group identity and economic interests to maintain power?
  2. What does Saul's tribalism teach about the dangers of factional loyalty over principled leadership?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 22

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שָׁא֗וּל2 of 22

Then Saul

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

לַֽעֲבָדָיו֙3 of 22

unto his servants

H5650

a servant

הַנִּצָּבִ֣ים4 of 22

that stood

H5324

to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively)

עָלָ֔יו5 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

שִׁמְעוּ6 of 22

about him Hear now

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

נָ֖א7 of 22
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

בֶּן8 of 22

will the son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יְמִינִ֑י9 of 22

ye Benjamites

H1145

a benjaminite, or descendent of benjamin

גַּם10 of 22
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

לְכֻלְּכֶ֗ם11 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

יִתֵּ֤ן12 of 22

give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

בֶּן13 of 22

will the son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשַׁי֙14 of 22

of Jesse

H3448

jishai, david's father

שָׂד֣וֹת15 of 22

every one of you fields

H7704

a field (as flat)

וּכְרָמִ֔ים16 of 22

and vineyards

H3754

a garden or vineyard

לְכֻלְּכֶ֣ם17 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

יָשִׂ֔ים18 of 22

and make

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

וְשָׂרֵ֥י19 of 22

and captains

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

אֲלָפִ֖ים20 of 22

of thousands

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

וְשָׂרֵ֥י21 of 22

and captains

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

מֵאֽוֹת׃22 of 22

of hundreds

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 22:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 22:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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