1 samuel 22:7 - Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 22:7

What does "1 samuel 22:7" mean?


This verse reveals Saul's paranoia and insecurity about his own power and legitimacy as king. Let's break it down:

"Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites!" Saul is addressing his court, specifically emphasizing their shared tribal identity as Benjamites. This is important because Saul himself is from the tribe of Benjamin. He's appealing to their tribal loyalty.
"Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards?" "The son of Jesse" is a derogatory way to refer to David. Jesse was David's father. Saul is implying that David is bribing people for their support. In that era, fields and vineyards were the primary source of wealth and status. He's suggesting David is promising land to his supporters to win them over.
"Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?" This reinforces the idea of David offering positions of power and authority to his followers. The ranks of captains of thousands and hundreds were important military leadership roles. Saul is suggesting that David is buying loyalty with promotions and advancement.

In essence, Saul is accusing David of:

Bribery: Offering material rewards to gain support.
Nepotism (or in this case, factionalism): Favoring his own supporters (presumably those not from Benjamin) over those loyal to Saul.
Usurping Saul's authority: He is presenting David as a rival king who can offer rewards and positions that only the current king, Saul, should be able to grant.

The underlying meaning is that Saul is fearful and suspicious:

He is afraid of losing his kingdom to David, whom he sees as a threat.
He is insecure in his own leadership and feels he needs to manipulate his court to maintain power.
He plays on tribal loyalties to ensure his Benjamite servants remain loyal to him rather than supporting David.

This verse sets the stage for Saul's increasingly desperate and paranoid actions against David, fueled by jealousy and fear of losing the throne. It also illustrates how Saul's insecurities and lack of faith in God were contributing to his downfall.