1 Samuel 22:6

6 Und es kam vor Saul, daß David und die Männer, die bei ihm waren, wären hervorgekommen. Und Saul saß zu Gibea unter dem Baum auf der Höhe und hatte seinen Spieß in der Hand, und alle seine Knechte standen neben ihm.

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 Und er ließ sie vor dem König der Moabiter, daß sie bei ihm blieben, solange David sich barg an sicherem Orte.
5 Aber der Prophet Gad sprach zu David: Bleibe nicht verborgen, sondern gehe hin und komm ins Land Juda. Da ging David hin und kam in den Wald Hereth.
6 Und es kam vor Saul, daß David und die Männer, die bei ihm waren, wären hervorgekommen. Und Saul saß zu Gibea unter dem Baum auf der Höhe und hatte seinen Spieß in der Hand, und alle seine Knechte standen neben ihm.
7 Da sprach Saul zu seinen Knechten, die neben ihm standen: Höret, ihr Benjaminiter! wird auch der Sohn Isais euch allen Äcker und Weinberge geben und euch alle über tausend und über hundert zu Obersten machen,
8 daß ihr euch alle verbunden habt wider mich und ist niemand, der es meinen Ohren offenbarte, weil auch mein Sohn einen Bund gemacht hat mit dem Sohn Isais? Ist niemand unter euch, den es kränke meinethalben und der es meinen Ohren offenbare? Denn mein Sohn hat meinen Knecht wider mich auferweckt, daß er mir nachstellt, wie es am Tage ist.
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