I Samuel 22:6-10 · Bible study
1 Samuel 22:6-10 Commentary: Paranoia Under the Tamarisk
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Saul sits with his spear, accusing his servants of conspiracy; Doeg reports David's visit to Ahimelech the priest at Nob.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Saul’s court assembles under a tamarisk; he accuses his servants of conspiracy; Doeg reports David’s visit to the priest Ahimelech.
- Key words: tamarisk (H815), spear (H2595), conspired (H7194), inquired (H7592), sword of Goliath (H2719/H1555).
- Main debate: Whether Doeg lied (Psalm 52:3) or reported facts truthfully but with malicious intent.
- Episcopal theme: The danger of paranoia and false accusation; the misuse of religious authority for personal vendetta.
- Best use: Preaching on leadership, gossip, and the power of words to incite violence.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
6Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.
7Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?
8Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”
9But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
10Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
6Saul heard that David was discovered, with the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
7Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?
8Is that why all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a treaty with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?”
9Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10He inquired of Yahweh for him, gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
KJV King James Version 1769
6When 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;)
7Then 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;
8That 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?
9Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10And he enquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
6And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him: now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk-tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.
7And 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, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,
8that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that discloseth to me when my son maketh a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or discloseth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10And he inquired of Jehovah for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
6And Saul heareth that David hath become known, and the men who are with him, and Saul is abiding in Gibeah, under the grove in Ramah, and his spear is in his hand, and all his servants standing by him.
7And Saul saith to his servants who are standing by him, `Hear, I pray you, ye Benjamites; also to all of you doth the son of Jesse give fields and vineyards! all of you he doth appoint heads of thousands and heads of hundreds!
8for ye have conspired all of you against me, and there is none uncovering mine ear about my son's covenanting with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you grieving for me, and uncovering mine ear, that my son hath raised up my servant against me, to lie in wait as at this day.'
9And answer doth Doeg the Edomite, who is set over the servants of Saul, and saith, `I have seen the son of Jesse coming in to Nob, unto Ahimelech son of Ahitub,
10and he asketh for him at Jehovah, and provision hath given to him, and the sword of Goliath the Philistine hath given to him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
6And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk upon the height, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing by him.
7Then Saul said to his servants that stood by him, Hear now, ye Benjaminites: will the son of Jesse give every one of you also fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,
8that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that informs me when my son has made [a covenant] with the son of Jesse; and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or informs me that my son has stirred up my servant as a lier-in-wait against me, as at this day?
9Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10And he inquired of Jehovah for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
6And Sau I heard that David was seen, and the men that were with him. Now whilst Saul abode in Gabaa, and was in the wood, which is by Rama, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him,
7He said to his servants that stood about him: Hear me now, ye sons of Jemini: will the son of Isai give every one of you fields, and vineyards, and make you all tribunes, and centurions:
8That all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one to inform me, especially when even my son hath entered into league with the son of Isai? There is not one of you that pitieth my case, nor that giveth me any information: because my son hath raised up my servant against me, plotting against me to this day.
9And Doeg, the Edomite, who stood by, and was the chief among the servants of Saul, answering, said: I saw the son of Isai, in Nobe, with Achimelech, the son of Achitob, the priest.
10And he consulted the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 22:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators read this scene as a portrait of a king unravelling. The setting, Saul seated under a tamarisk on the high place, spear in hand, servants standing round, matches a solemn royal conclave (Barnes; Keil & Delitzsch). Yet the same spear had twice been thrown at David (1 Sam 18:11; 19:10). His speech to the Benjamites reveals raw paranoia: he assumes Jonathan has made a secret covenant with David, though Clarke notes no such league existed. He interprets his servants’ silence as conspiracy. Doeg’s response, as Cambridge observes, reports true facts selectively and with malicious intent, confirming Saul’s suspicions and setting the stage for the massacre of priests. The Hebrew participle yoshev (“sitting”) underlines the formality of the assembly, while the spear in hand keeps the threat visible. Across traditions, Gill, Matthew Henry, Lange, the passage warns how suspicion, once unleashed, destroys the very order a king is meant to protect.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Doeg's report false: Psalm 52 calls Doeg's tongue deceitful, and the inquiry of the Lord is not recorded in 1 Samuel 21; thus it may be fabricated.
- Doeg's report true but malicious: Ahimelech does not deny inquiring of the Lord (1 Sam 22:15), and Doeg's sin is not lying but telling a partial truth with intent to destroy.
What is clear: Saul's paranoia and misuse of royal authority are evident; his accusations lead to a tragic massacre of the priests of Nob.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Doeg's truthfulness | Doeg reported David's visit to Nob and Ahimelech's actions (giving food, sword, and inquiring of God). | Some argue Doeg lied (Psalm 52:3) and fabricated the inquiry of YHWH; others say the inquiry occurred (Ahimelech doesn;t deny it in v.15) but Doeg deliberately omitted David's deceptive circumstances to incriminate. |
| Saul's accusation of conspiracy | Saul believed his servants and Jonathan had conspired with David against him. | No actual conspiracy existed (Clarke), yet some note that David's growing band and Jonathan's covenant could appear threatening from Saul's paranoid perspective. Others see it as pure delusion. |
| The spear as symbol | The spear represents Saul's authority and his violent intent (it had been hurled at David earlier). | Whether it is primarily a royal scepter (Wesley) or a weapon of personal threat (Keil). Both views are supported by the narrative. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, the tamarisk tree marked a place of solemn assembly. Abraham planted one at Beersheba (Gen 21:33), and Deborah judged under a palm (Jdg 4:5). Here Saul sits under a tamarisk on the “high place” (Ramah), a site often used for worship or public justice. His spear, as Wesley notes, served as an ensign of majesty long before scepters were common, but this same spear had been thrown at David (1 Sam 18:10, 11), so its presence signals both authority and menace.
Saul addresses “Benjamites”, men of his own tribe, revealing that his support base had shrunk to kinsmen. The kingdom of Israel was still tribal, and he feared David would elevate Judahites instead (Barnes). His accusation “all of you have conspired” is baseless; no evidence of a plot is given. Doeg the Edomite, an outsider identified by Gill as “chief of the herdsmen,” steps forward. His report that David came to Nob, Ahimelech gave him food and Goliath’s sword, and inquired of the Lord is factually correct (see 1 Sam 21:1, 9). Yet he frames it as treason. Cambridge notes that Psalm 52 (title) connects to this event, calling Doeg’s tongue “a false tongue”, not because the facts were wrong, but because his telling aimed to destroy. Nob was a priestly city, and Doeg’s words will soon lead to its ruin (1 Sam 22:11, 19).
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. The main difference in translations is whether Doeg is “set over the servants” (KJV, YLT) or “who stood by the servants” (WEB). This reflects a possible ambiguity in the Hebrew verb נִצָּב (nitsav, standing/appointed), but it does not change the narrative meaning.
Reception History
This passage has been read as a cautionary tale about false witness and unjust authority. In Jewish tradition, Doeg the Edomite became a type of the malicious informer, associated with Psalms 52 and 120. Early Christian writers, such as Augustine, saw in Saul a picture of the earthly king whose jealousy leads to persecution of the innocent, while David prefigures Christ. Puritan commentators like Matthew Henry emphasized the sin of stirring up suspicion. In liturgy, the passage is sometimes paired with warnings against gossip and slander. The detail of the spear has been used in homilies to contrast worldly power (spear, scepter) with God's anointing. The massacre of the priests that follows (vv.11, 19) deepens the tragedy, making this a sobering narrative about the corruption of authority.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A king paralysed by fear. Saul sits under the tree, spear in hand, authority turned into a weapon of suspicion.
- An accusation built on nothing. He charges his servants with conspiracy, yet no evidence exists. Paranoia manufactures enemies.
- A report that fuels destruction. Doeg’s true story, told with malicious intent, triggers the massacre of the priests.
Five-point outline
- The setting: Tamarisk, spear, servants standing, court becomes menace.
- The appeal: “Hear now, you Benjamites!”, Saul plays tribal loyalty against unity.
- The accusation: “All of you have conspired against me”, imagined betrayal.
- The silence: No one objects; fear locks the court.
- The informant: Doeg reports facts but omits David’s deception, making truth a weapon.
Illustration hooks
- A manager who installs cameras in the break room because he suspects everyone, turning trust into surveillance.
- A church where a member’s gossip is defended as “just sharing what I saw,” though the story lacks crucial context and sows division.
- The loneliness of being the only person who knows a secret, pressured to speak yet aware that words can destroy.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why didn’t any of Saul’s servants confront him? What makes people stay silent when a leader goes wrong?
- Was it wrong for Doeg to report what he saw? When does telling the truth become a sin?
- How can I tell if I am seeing real threats or imagining them the way Saul did?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows how suspicion can poison a community. Saul’s unfounded accusations and Doeg’s selective reporting remind us how easily truth can be twisted into a weapon. As you read 1 Sam 22:6, 10, notice the physical details, the tree, the spear, the circle of servants, and think about what they communicate about authority and fear.
Discussion questions
- What details in verse 6 set the scene? What do the tamarisk, the spear, and the standing servants tell you about this moment?
- Why does Saul address only the Benjamites? What does this reveal about his view of loyalty and the kingdom?
- Read verses 7, 8. Is there any evidence behind Saul’s accusation? What does this suggest about his state of mind?
- How do the servants respond to Saul’s charge? Why might they stay silent?
- Doeg reports true facts (v.9, 10). What makes his report dangerous? Can you name a modern situation where facts are used to harm rather than inform?
- Compare Saul’s reaction here with David’s attitude toward Saul in 1 Samuel 24. What contrast do you see in how they handle fear?
- How can your small group or church build a culture where honest questions can be asked without suspicion spiraling into false accusation?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 21:33 | Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God. |
| Judges 4:5 | She lived under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. |
| I Samuel 18:10 | On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; |
| I Samuel 19:9 | An evil spirit from Yahweh was on Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing music with his hand. |
| I Samuel 20:33 | Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. |
| I Samuel 8:11 | He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots. |
| I Samuel 8:12 | He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots. |
| I Samuel 8:14 | He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes corrects the translation of "under a tree" to "under the tamarisk-tree on the high place," Saul's usual open-air assembly point. He also notes the accusation that Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for David was false; Doeg likely misinterpreted Ahimelech fetching the sword from behind the ephod as an oracular act.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary highlights that Doeg's report to Saul was technically truthful yet still a "false tongue" because it was told with malicious intent and confirmed Saul's cruel suspicions. It also notes that Saul's sarcastic appeal to tribal jealousies reveals his growing paranoia.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that Doeg’s report to Saul was factually true but deliberately incomplete: he omitted how David had deceived the priest by claiming the king’s business, a detail that would have cleared Ahimelech. This selective honesty made Doeg’s testimony treacherous, costing the priest’s life.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights Saul's manipulative appeal to his own tribe, suggesting David aimed to steal the kingdom from Benjamin. On Doeg's accusation, he notes that while Ahimelech did inquire of the Lord for David, the high priest was genuinely ignorant of the family feud, making the facts misleading.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists that the men who gathered to David were not a lawless rabble but victims of Saul’s oppression, driven by righteous discontent. He argues David was no rebel; his band formed a theocratic community of the faithful under God’s chosen leader, not a seditious mob.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on Saul's appeal to his own tribe: he asks the Benjamites if David can give them what he can, playing on their self-interest. Saul's bitter complaint that no one is sorry for him shows a paranoid king who trusts no one, not even his closest kin.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley points out that Saul carried a spear as a royal ensign, since ancient kings used a spear instead of a scepter. He then shows how Saul played on tribal loyalty, asking Benjamites if David would favor them as he had. Wesley also notes Saul's crafty interrogation and charges David with lying and concealing part of the truth.