1 Samuel 22:7
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;
Original Language Analysis
הַנִּצָּבִ֣ים
that stood
H5324
הַנִּצָּבִ֣ים
that stood
Strong's:
H5324
Word #:
4 of 22
to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively)
עָלָ֔יו
H5921
עָלָ֔יו
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שִׁמְעוּ
about him Hear now
H8085
שִׁמְעוּ
about him Hear now
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
6 of 22
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
נָ֖א
H4994
נָ֖א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
7 of 22
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
בֶּן
will the son
H1121
בֶּן
will the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
8 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
10 of 22
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
לְכֻלְּכֶ֗ם
H3605
לְכֻלְּכֶ֗ם
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִתֵּ֤ן
give
H5414
יִתֵּ֤ן
give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
12 of 22
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
בֶּן
will the son
H1121
בֶּן
will the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
13 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
לְכֻלְּכֶ֣ם
H3605
לְכֻלְּכֶ֣ם
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
17 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יָשִׂ֔ים
and make
H7760
יָשִׂ֔ים
and make
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
18 of 22
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אֲלָפִ֖ים
of thousands
H505
אֲלָפִ֖ים
of thousands
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
20 of 22
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern kingship involved extensive patronage networks. Saul's appeal to Benjamite tribalism reflects the ongoing tribal tensions within early Israel. Land grants and military appointments were primary means of securing loyalty in pre-monarchic and early monarchic Israel.
Questions for Reflection
- How do leaders manipulate group identity and economic interests to maintain power?
- What does Saul's tribalism teach about the dangers of factional loyalty over principled leadership?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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;
Saul's appeal to tribal loyalty reveals his political strategy and insecurity. The Hebrew 'shimu-na' (hear now) demands attention for his accusation. By addressing his servants as 'Benjamites,' he invokes tribal solidarity against the Judahite David. His rhetorical question about 'fields and vineyards' appeals to economic self-interest—David, from small-town Bethlehem, could not match the patronage Saul provided. The military ranks mentioned ('captains of thousands and hundreds') represented the rewards Saul had distributed to his fellow Benjamites. This speech exposes a king who maintained loyalty through bribes rather than justice, and who viewed the throne as tribal property rather than divine trust.