1 Samuel 22:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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;

Complete Jewish Bible:

Sha'ul said to his servants standing around him, "Listen, you men of Binyamin! Is Yishai's son going to give any of you fields and vineyards? Is he going to make you all commanders of thousands and hundreds?

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?

American Standard Version:

And 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, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then Saul{H7586} said{H559} unto his servants{H5650} that stood{H5324} about him, Hear now{H8085}, ye Benjamites{H1145}; will the son{H1121} of Jesse{H3448} give{H5414} every one of you fields{H7704} and vineyards{H3754}, and make{H7760} you all captains{H8269} of thousands{H505}, and captains{H8269} of hundreds{H3967};

Cross-References (KJV):

1 Samuel 8:14

  • And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants.

1 Samuel 8:15

  • And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

1 Kings 12:16

  • ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither [have we] inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

Isaiah 11:10

  • ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

1 Samuel 20:27

  • And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was] the second [day] of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?

Isaiah 11:1

  • ¶ And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

1 Samuel 8:11

  • And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before his chariots.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 22:7

1 Samuel 22:7 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the rising conflict between Saul, the first king of Israel, and David, the future king anointed by the prophet Samuel. At this point in the story, David has been anointed by Samuel and has gained popularity among the people, including Saul's own tribe, the Benjamites. The verse captures a moment of Saul's growing paranoia and insecurity regarding his kingship.

In the verse, Saul addresses his servants, particularly those from his own tribe of Benjamin, and questions their loyalty. He sarcastically asks if David, referred to as "the son of Jesse," will generously bestow upon them fields, vineyards, and high military ranks such as captains of thousands and hundreds. Saul's words reflect his fear that David's influence is growing at his expense, and he is attempting to undermine David's appeal by highlighting the potential benefits that might tempt his followers.

The historical context of this verse is the transition period between the era of the judges and the establishment of a monarchy in Israel. Saul's reign is marked by instability, as he struggles with his own insecurities and God's rejection of him as king due to his disobedience. David, on the other hand, is portrayed as a young man rising in favor, both with God and the people. This verse is part of the unfolding drama that will eventually lead to Saul's downfall and David's ascent to the throne. The themes present in this verse include loyalty, leadership, divine favor, and the human flaws of jealousy and fear of losing power. Saul's question to his servants is a reflection of his desperate attempt to maintain control and highlights the political and personal tensions that characterized his reign.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H7586
    There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁאוּל
    Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
    Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
    Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.
  2. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  3. Strong's Number: H5650
    There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֶבֶד
    Transliteration: ʻebed
    Pronunciation: eh'-bed
    Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
  4. Strong's Number: H5324
    There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָצַב
    Transliteration: nâtsab
    Pronunciation: naw-tsab'
    Description: a primitive root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively); appointed, deputy, erect, establish, [idiom] Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state.
  5. Strong's Number: H8085
    There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁמַע
    Transliteration: shâmaʻ
    Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
    Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
  6. Strong's Number: H1145
    There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֶּן־יְמִינִי
    Transliteration: Ben-yᵉmîynîy
    Pronunciation: ben-yem-ee-nee'
    Description: sometimes (with the article inserted) בֵּן־הַיּמִינִי; with אִישׁ inserted (1 Samuel 9:1) בֶּן־אִישׁ ימִינִי; son of a man of Jemini; or shortened אִישׁ יְמִינִי; (1 Samuel 9:4; Esther 2:5) a man of Jemini, or (1 Samuel 20:1) simply יְמִינִיxlit Yᵉmînîy corrected to Yᵉmîynîy; a Jeminite; (plural) בְּנֵי יְמִינִיxlit Bᵉnîy corrected to Bᵉnêy; patron from בִּנְיָמִין; a Benjaminite, or descendent of Benjamin; Benjamite, of Benjamin.
  7. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  8. Strong's Number: H3448
    There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשַׁי
    Transliteration: Yishay
    Pronunciation: yee-shah'-ee
    Description: by Aramaic אִישַׁי; from the same as יֵשׁ; extant; Jishai, David's father; Jesse.
  9. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
  10. Strong's Number: H7704
    There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׂדֶה
    Transliteration: sâdeh
    Pronunciation: saw-deh'
    Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.
  11. Strong's Number: H3754
    There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כֶּרֶם
    Transliteration: kerem
    Pronunciation: keh'-rem
    Description: from an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard; vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage. See also בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם.
  12. Strong's Number: H7760
    There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שׂוּם
    Transliteration: sûwm
    Pronunciation: soom
    Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
  13. Strong's Number: H8269
    There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שַׂר
    Transliteration: sar
    Pronunciation: sar
    Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.
  14. Strong's Number: H505
    There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶלֶף
    Transliteration: ʼeleph
    Pronunciation: eh'-lef
    Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand.
  15. Strong's Number: H3967
    There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֵאָה
    Transliteration: mêʼâh
    Pronunciation: may-aw'
    Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore.