Saul attempts to cement his tribe’s loyalty by offering them what he perceives David cannot match.
In “Saul said to his servants who stood about him, ‘Hear now, O Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?’” (1 Samuel 22:7), King Saul speaks to the men of Benjamin, his own tribe, in a highly charged and accusatory tone. He is located at Gibeah, the royal seat of his reign, situated a few miles north of what would later become Jerusalem. Historically, Saul reigned as Israel’s first king from about 1050 BC to 1010 BC, having been anointed by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1). By calling them “Benjamites,” Saul attempts to invoke tribal loyalty, hoping that these men will remain faithful to him against David—referred to dismissively as “the son of Jesse.”
Saul’s questions—“Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards?” (1 Samuel 22:7)—reveal the King’s growing paranoia and fear that David might influence or bribe Saul’s own men into turning against him. The mention of fields and vineyards hints at the ancient Near Eastern custom of kings granting land and wealth to those loyal to them Joshua 13:7). By portraying David as potentially doing the same, Saul frames David as a real threat to his sovereignty, suggesting that David could offer similar material rewards.
When Saul asks if David can also “make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds” (1 Samuel 22:7), he is displaying his insecurity regarding his own power structure. These roles—commanders over portions of an army—were significant positions of authority and status. In the biblical narrative, David’s lineage will ultimately lead to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:1), demonstrating the far-reaching plan of God’s sovereignty that extends beyond these immediate fears of an anxious king. Saul’s mistrust and jealousy foreshadow the ongoing conflict between him and David, setting the stage for David’s eventual rise as the God-appointed king.
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1 Samuel 22:7 meaning
In “Saul said to his servants who stood about him, ‘Hear now, O Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?’” (1 Samuel 22:7), King Saul speaks to the men of Benjamin, his own tribe, in a highly charged and accusatory tone. He is located at Gibeah, the royal seat of his reign, situated a few miles north of what would later become Jerusalem. Historically, Saul reigned as Israel’s first king from about 1050 BC to 1010 BC, having been anointed by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1). By calling them “Benjamites,” Saul attempts to invoke tribal loyalty, hoping that these men will remain faithful to him against David—referred to dismissively as “the son of Jesse.”
Saul’s questions—“Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards?” (1 Samuel 22:7)—reveal the King’s growing paranoia and fear that David might influence or bribe Saul’s own men into turning against him. The mention of fields and vineyards hints at the ancient Near Eastern custom of kings granting land and wealth to those loyal to them Joshua 13:7). By portraying David as potentially doing the same, Saul frames David as a real threat to his sovereignty, suggesting that David could offer similar material rewards.
When Saul asks if David can also “make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds” (1 Samuel 22:7), he is displaying his insecurity regarding his own power structure. These roles—commanders over portions of an army—were significant positions of authority and status. In the biblical narrative, David’s lineage will ultimately lead to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:1), demonstrating the far-reaching plan of God’s sovereignty that extends beyond these immediate fears of an anxious king. Saul’s mistrust and jealousy foreshadow the ongoing conflict between him and David, setting the stage for David’s eventual rise as the God-appointed king.