John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him , etc.] He took this opportunity of addressing them in the following manner, upon the report of David being at the head of a certain number of men: hear now, ye Benjamites ; for Saul being of the tribe of Benjamin, his courtiers and his bodyguards chiefly, if not altogether, consisted of persons of that tribe; and therefore as they were under obligation to him, and ought to abide by him, and adhere closely to him, so it was the more ungrateful in them, as he thought, not to be concerned for his honour and interest: will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards ; as Saul had done, or was capable of doing, and would do if they were faithful to him; whereas it was not in the power of David, whom in contempt he calls the son of Jesse, to do it; and even should he ever be king, and in his power to make such donations, it cannot be thought he would give them to them, but to the favourites of his own tribe: [and] make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds ; which he now could not do, since he had with him but four hundred men in all; and should his army increase, and the kingdom come into his hands, so far would all of them be from being advanced to posts in the army, that it was probable none of them would, but those of his own tribe and party.
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 ויאמר559 שׁאול7586 לעבדיו5650 הנצבים5324 עליו5921 שׁמעו8085 נא4994 בני1121 ימיני3227 גם1571 לכלכם3605 יתן5414 בן1121 ישׁי3448 שׂדות7704 וכרמים3754 לכלכם3605 ישׂים7760 שׂרי8269 אלפים505 ושׂרי8269 מאות׃3967
