1 Samuel 22:7

“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…”

“Hear now, ye Benjamites--This was an appeal to stimulate the patriotism or jealousy of his own tribe, from which he insinuated it was the design of David to transfer the kingdom to another. This address seems to have been made on hearing of David's return with his four hundred men to Judah. A dark suspicion had risen in the jealous mind of the king that Jonathan was aware of this movement, which he dreaded as a conspiracy against the crown.”

“Ye Benjamites - Showing how isolated the tribes still were, and how for the most part Saul was surrounded by his own tribesmen only. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Ye Benjamites - You that are of my own tribe and kindred, from whom David designs to translate the kingdom to another tribe. Will he distribute profits and preferments among you Benjamites, as I have done? Will he not rather prefer those of his own tribe before you? 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 22:8”

“22:7-8 men of Benjamin: Saul was suspicious of his own tribesmen, believing that David had bought their loyalty. Worse, Saul did not even trust his own son, convinced that he had joined the supposed conspiracy.”

“the son of Jesse: Sa1 22:9, Sa1 22:13, Sa1 18:14, Sa1 20:27, Sa1 20:30, Sa1 25:10; Sa2 20:1; Kg1 12:16; Isa 11:1, Isa 11:10 give: Sa1 8:14, Sa1 8:15 captains: Sa1 8:11, Sa1 8:12 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 22:8”