1 Samuel 22:6

1 Samuel 22:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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;)
• New International Version (NIV)Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered—now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him—

Context of 1 Samuel 22:6

4Then he left them with the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 5Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; leave, and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went into the forest of Hereth. But Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree on the high place with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. 7Saul said to his servants who were standing around him, “Listen now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse also give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and hundreds? 8For all of you have conspired against me so that no one informs me when my son [Jonathan] makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you cares about me or informs me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in ambush, as he does this day?”

1 Samuel 22:6 word by word

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע שָׁא֔וּל כִּ֚י נוֹדַ֣ע דָּוִ֔ד וַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וְשָׁאוּל֩ יוֹשֵׁ֨ב בַּגִּבְעָ֜ה תַּֽחַת־הָאֶ֤שֶׁל בָּֽרָמָה֙ וַחֲנִית֣וֹ בְיָד֔וֹ וְכָל־עֲבָדָ֖יו נִצָּבִ֥ים עָלָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• that Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• was discoveredיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• and the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• abodeיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in Gibeahגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · GibeahH1390
• under a treeאֵ֫שֶׁל'êshel · tamariskH815
• in Ramahרָמָהrâmâh · RamahH7414
• having his spearחֲנִיתchănîyth · spearH2595
• in his handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• and all his servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• standingנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 22:6

• 1 Samuel 18:10Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul, and he raved [madly] inside his house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and there was a spear in Saul’s hand.
• 1 Samuel 19:9Then an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.
• 1 Samuel 20:33Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down, so Jonathan knew [without any doubt] that his father had decided to put David to death.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 22:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Saul abode in Gibeah - Saul and his men were in pursuit of David, and had here, as is the general custom in the East, encamped on a height, for so Ramah should be translated, as in the margin. His spear, the ensign of power (see on 1 Samuel 18:11; (note)), was at hand, that is stuck in the ground where he rested, which was the mark to the soldiers that there was their general's tent. And all his servants were standing about him - That is, they were…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Under a tree in Ramah - Rather, “under the tamarisk-tree on the high place,” where he always held such meetings. It was a kind of parliament in the open air, and all his tribesmen gathered round him. (Compare Judges 4:5.)Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-19Verses 6-19 See the nature of jealous malice and its pitiful arts. Saul looks upon all about him as his enemies, because they do not just say as he says. In Ahimelech's answer to Saul we have the language of conscious innocence. But what wickedness will not the evil spirit hurry men to when he gets the dominion! Saul alleges that which was utterly false and unproved. But the most bloody tyrants have found instruments of their cruelty as barbarous as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-23Saul’s character is clear here. He could not take revenge on David himself. Instead, Saul killed those he believed had helped David.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. Saul abode ... under a tree in Ramah--literally, "under a grove on a hill." Oriental princes frequently sit with their court under some shady canopy in the open air. A spear was the early scepter.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 22:6

• Abiathar
• Gibeah
• Government
• Malice

In the dictionaries

• David
• Gibeah
• Saul
• Ramah
• Paul, Saul
• Abiathar
• Grove
• Tamarisk
• Armor; Arms
• Discover

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings