1 Samuel 22:6

6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree[a] in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)

1 Samuel 22:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 22:6

When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that
[were] with him
That it was known where David was, and what number of men were gathered to him, and that they now openly appeared in the tribe of Judah; for some time Saul had heard nothing of him, but now a report had reached his ears that David was in arms, and at the head of a number of men; which now greatly alarmed Saul, and possessed him with fears and jealousies of his people, and all about him:

now Saul abode in Gibeah, under a tree in Ramah;
this was Gibeah of Saul, and in or near which was a place called Ramah, or an high place, as the word signifies, on which was a remarkable tree, and under that Saul abode, being a proper shelter for him from any inclemency of the weather; for this was not Ramah where Samuel dwelt, though the Jews in the Talmud F2 so think, and metaphorically understand the tree in it of Samuel in Ramah praying for him, by means of which he continued two years in the height of his kingdom; but this was a tree in a literal sense. R. Jonah F3 says it is possible it might be the same which in Arabia is called Ethel, and is like to a tamarisk tree:

having his spear in his hand:
ready to defend himself, and revenge his enemies; or rather which he held as a sceptre in his hand; (See Gill on 1 Samuel 20:33);

and all his servants [were] standing about him;
in reverence of him, and honour to him, waiting upon him, and ready to obey his orders: these were his courtiers, or his guards, or both.


FOOTNOTES:

F2 T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 5. 2.
F3 Apud Ben Melech in loc.

1 Samuel 22:6 In-Context

4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
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;)
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?

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. tree...: or, grove in a high place
The King James Version is in the public domain.