John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that [were] with him , etc.] That it was known where David was, and what number of men were gathered to him, and that they now openly appeared in the tribe of Judah; for some time Saul had heard nothing of him, but now a report had reached his ears that David was in arms, and at the head of a number of men; which now greatly alarmed Saul, and possessed him with fears and jealousies of his people, and all about him: now Saul abode in Gibeah, under a tree in Ramah ; this was Gibeah of Saul, and in or near which was a place called Ramah, or an high place, as the word signifies, on which was a remarkable tree, and under that Saul abode, being a proper shelter for him from any inclemency of the weather; for this was not Ramah where Samuel dwelt, though the Jews in the Talmud so think, and metaphorically understand the tree in it of Samuel in Ramah praying for him, by means of which he continued two years in the height of his kingdom; but this was a tree in a literal sense. R. Jonah f454 says it is possible it might be the same which in Arabia is called Ethel, and is like to a tamarisk tree: having his spear in his hand : ready to defend himself, and revenge his enemies; or rather which he held as a sceptre in his hand; (see Gill on “ Samuel 20:33”); and all his servants [were] standing about him ; in reverence of him, and honour to him, waiting upon him, and ready to obey his orders: these were his courtiers, or his guards, or both.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-19 - See the nature of jealous malice and its pitiful arts. Saul looks upo 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 consciou innocence. But what wickedness will not the evil spirit hurry men to when he gets the dominion! Saul alleges that which was utterly fals and unproved. But the most bloody tyrants have found instruments of their cruelty as barbarous as themselves. Doeg, having murdered the priests, went to the city, Nob, and put all to the sword there. Nothin so vile but those may do it, who have provoked God to give them up to their hearts' lusts. Yet this was the accomplishment of the threatenings against the house of Eli. Though Saul was unrighteous in doing this, yet God was righteous in permitting it. No word of God shall fall to the ground.
Original Hebrew וישׁמע8085 שׁאול7586 כי3588 נודע3045 דוד1732 ואנשׁים582 אשׁר834 אתו854 ושׁאול7586 יושׁב3427 בגבעה1390 תחת8478 האשׁל815 ברמה7413 וחניתו2595 בידו3027 וכל3605 עבדיו5650 נצבים5324 עליו׃5921
