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.
Original Language Analysis
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְזֵֽיתֵיכֶ֛ם
and your oliveyards
H2132
וְזֵֽיתֵיכֶ֛ם
and your oliveyards
Strong's:
H2132
Word #:
5 of 9
an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry
הַטּוֹבִ֖ים
even the best
H2896
הַטּוֹבִ֖ים
even the best
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
6 of 9
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
יִקָּ֑ח
And he will take
H3947
יִקָּ֑ח
And he will take
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
7 of 9
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
Cross References
Ezekiel 46:18Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.1 Kings 21:7And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
Historical Context
Land tenure was foundational to ancient Israelite society. The tribal allotment system and Jubilee laws (Leviticus 25) were designed to prevent permanent alienation of family property. Archaeological surveys show significant changes in settlement patterns and land ownership during the monarchic period, with larger estates replacing smaller family holdings.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Israel's land theology teach about the relationship between spiritual identity and material provision?
- How might attachment to "the best" of our possessions reveal misplaced trust in earthly security rather than divine provision?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
The confiscation of agricultural land strikes at the heart of Israelite social structure. Under the covenant, the land belonged ultimately to God (Leviticus 25:23), distributed among tribes and families as an inalienable inheritance ("nachalah"). Fields, vineyards, and olive groves represented not merely economic assets but covenantal identity—tangible evidence of God's promise fulfilled. The king will seize "the best" (Hebrew "hatov"), leaving inferior portions for the original owners. This property will then be redistributed to royal officials ("avadim," servants), creating a new elite class dependent on and loyal to the crown rather than to their tribes. Ahab's seizure of Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21) provides the classic illustration of this warning fulfilled. The text thus anticipates how monarchy will undermine the economic equality and family stability that the Jubilee laws were designed to protect.