Bible Strands
1 Samuel 22:6
Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative reports Saul learning of David’s location while Saul sits on a hill at Gibeah with his spear and servants. This moment follows David’s departure from the stronghold to the forest of Hereth.
The words — וַ/יִּשְמַ֣ע (va/i.yish.Ma') translates to “and he heard,” and נוֹדַ֣ע (no.Da') means “was known,” marking the shift from David’s concealment to his exposure.
The thread — The tamarisk tree recalls Abraham’s worship site in Genesis 21:33 and contrasts with the judicial shade of Judges 4:5, while the spear motif reappears in 1 Samuel 18:10 during Saul’s fits of distress.
Why it lands — The verse positions a fearful king in a posture of authority while his target remains at large, requiring the reader to track how political paranoia triggers immediate royal mobilization.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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;)
Cross-references
- Genesis 21:33 And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.
- Judges 4:5 And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment.
- 1 Samuel 18:10 The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,
- 1 Samuel 19:9 But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp,
- 1 Samuel 20:33 Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.