1-Samuel-15 [1-Samuel 15:1] SAMUEL ALSO SAID UNTO SAUL, THE LORD SENT ME TO ANOINT THEE TO BE KING OVER HIS PEOPLE, OVER ISRAEL: NOW THEREFORE HEARKEN THOU UNTO THE VOICE OF THE WORDS OF THE LORD. The Israelites were commanded to do three things when entering the land (Maimonides: Laws of Kings and Their Wars 1:1-2 Talmud, Sanhedrin 20:b): 1. Appoint a King. WHEN THOU ART COME UNTO THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE, AND SHALT POSSESS IT, AND SHALT DWELL THEREIN, AND SHALT SAY, I WILL SET A KING OVER ME, LIKE AS ALL THE NATIONS THAT ARE ABOUT ME [Deuteronomy 17:14]. 2. Wipe out Amalek. REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID UNTO THEE BY THE WAY, WHEN YE WERE COME FORTH OUT OF EGYPT [Deuteronomy 25:17]; HOW HE MET THEE BY THE WAY, AND SMOTE THE HINDMOST OF THEE, EVEN ALL THAT WERE FEEBLE BEHIND THEE, WHEN THOU WAST FAINT AND WEARY; AND HE FEARED NOT GOD [Deuteronomy 25:18]. THEREFORE IT SHALL BE, WHEN THE LORD THY GOD HATH GIVEN THEE REST FROM ALL THINE ENEMIES ROUND ABOUT, IN THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE FOR AN INHERITANCE TO POSSESS IT, THAT THOU SHALT BLOT OUT THE REMEMBRANCE OF AMALEK FROM UNDER HEAVEN; THOU SHALT NOT FORGET IT [Deuteronomy 25:19]. 3. Build the Temple BUT UNTO THE PLACE WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD SHALL CHOOSE OUT OF ALL YOUR TRIBES TO PUT HIS NAME THERE, EVEN UNTO HIS HABITATION SHALL YE SEEK, AND THITHER THOU SHALT COME [Deuteronomy 12:5]: "EVEN UNTO HIS HABITATION SHALL YE SEEK": This may be translated from the Hebrew as saying. "You shall seek His Dwelling", i.e. you shall seek to establish a Dwelling for Him, i.e. build a Temple in the chosen place. [1-Samuel 15:2] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, I REMEMBER THAT WHICH AMALEK DID TO ISRAEL, HOW HE LAID WAIT FOR HIM IN THE WAY, WHEN HE CAME UP FROM EGYPT. The enemy of Israel is the enemy of God. By attacking Israel in its moment of weakness it was as if the Amalekites had attempted to attack God Almighty. When Israel does the will of God the Divine Presence is felt in the world and strengthened. When Israel departs from the right path then it is as if the ability of God Himself is weakened. Israel is the conduit through which the Almighty makes Himself felt. When the conduit is "dirty" it is as if the Presence of the Almighty becomes blurred. This principle is expressed in the Zohar but actually even without the Zohar it would be learnable from the Book of Psalms and from the Prophets. [1-Samuel 15:3] NOW GO AND SMITE AMALEK, AND UTTERLY DESTROY ALL THAT THEY HAVE, AND SPARE THEM NOT; BUT SLAY BOTH MAN AND WOMAN, INFANT AND SUCKLING, OX AND SHEEP, CAMEL AND ASS. The first war against Amalek was headed by Joshua: AND MOSES SAID UNTO JOSHUA, CHOOSE US OUT MEN, AND GO OUT, FIGHT WITH AMALEK: TO MORROW I WILL STAND ON THE TOP OF THE HILL WITH THE ROD OF GOD IN MINE HAND [Exodus 17:9]. Joshua only weakened Amalek but did not destroy them entirely (Exodus 17:13). According to tradition Amalek represents the power of doubt, of atheism, and of denying the rule of Almighty God in this world. Joshua was of the Tribe of Ephraim son of Joseph son of Jacob and Rachel. Rachel had two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Saul was of the Tribe of Benjamin. "There is a tradition that the descendants of Esau can only be defeated by the descendants of Rachel" (Yalkut Shimeoni, Shoftim 51; Midrash, Mechilta. See Elyahu Yeid, "Shaul, Bechir HaShem", p.66). Amalek was a descendant of Esau. AND TIMNA WAS CONCUBINE TO ELIPHAZ ESAU'S SON; AND SHE BARE TO ELIPHAZ AMALEK: THESE WERE THE SONS OF ADAH ESAU'S WIFE [Genesis 36:12]. Amongst Israelite Lost Ten Tribe Brit-Am nations today descendants of Joseph are to be found mainly amongst the English speaking peoples. We traced Benjamin to the Normans and to a portion of the Belgae who settled in Britain and Ireland and possibly also amongst the Walloons in Belgium (see 'The Tribes"). Benjamin is also prominent amongst the present-day Jewish people. Since Saul was descended from Rachel he was worthy to lead the fight against Amalek who was descended from Esau. Nevertheless the future fight against Esau (Edom) will be lead by Joseph as described in the Biblical Book of Obadiah. Most traditional sources emphasize the innate ability of Joseph (rather than Benjamin) to defeat Easu, e.g. Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tatsai 10; Pesichta Rabah 12), Breishuit Rabah 73;5.. Perhaps at one stage it was possible to defeat Amalek through the Seed of Benjamin but less than likely and indeed, as we shall see, King Saul of Benjamin failed in his mission. At all events in peoples of British descent today the forces of Benjamin and Joseph are combined. GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL, THOU THAT LEADEST JOSEPH LIKE A FLOCK; THOU THAT DWELLEST BETWEEN THE CHERUBIMS, SHINE FORTH. BEFORE EPHRAIM AND BENJAMIN AND MANASSEH STIR UP THY STRENGTH, AND COME AND SAVE US [Psalms 80:1-2]. By warring against Amalek the roots of Joseph himself are strengthened (Yitschask Zeev Yadler, "Tiferet Zion"). [1-Samuel 15:4] AND SAUL GATHERED THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND NUMBERED THEM IN TELAIM, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND FOOTMEN, AND TEN THOUSAND MEN OF JUDAH. "TELAIM": In Hebrew this word is the plural of "lambs", singular "teleh". Possibly every conscript had to produce a lamb of his own that would become part of one great flock to provide food for the campaign. In those days they had no refrigeration or proper means of storage. Lambs are easy to maintain and transport for short periods of time and thus could serve as ready-made food "on the hoof". Napolean said: "An army marches on its stomach". The Sages said that the counting of the troops was done by means of the lambs rather than numbering them directly since holding a census of Israelites is frowned upon in Scripture. Even now religious Jews generally avoid participating in any Governments census. Altogether a force of 210,000 soldiers was raised which is quite a body. 10,000 came from Judah and the rest from the other tribes. From the very beginning a distinction was maintained between Judah and the rest of Israel. [1-Samuel 15:5] AND SAUL CAME TO A CITY OF AMALEK, AND LAID WAIT IN THE VALLEY. [1-Samuel 15:6] AND SAUL SAID UNTO THE KENITES, GO, DEPART, GET YOU DOWN FROM AMONG THE AMALEKITES, LEST I DESTROY YOU WITH THEM: FOR YE SHEWED KINDNESS TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WHEN THEY CAME UP OUT OF EGYPT. SO THE KENITES DEPARTED FROM AMONG THE AMALEKITES. The Kenites were the descendants of Jethro (Judges 1:16) and those who accompanied him. Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses. He had originally been a priest of the Midianites but he separated himself from them (Exodus 3:1). Tradition and Scripture indicate that some of the descendants of Jethro assimilated amongst the Israelites and great men emerged from their ranks. Other "Kenites" maintained a more or less separate existence of their own mainly in Israelite border areas. Yael who killed Sisera the oppressor Israel was the wife of Haber the Kenite who was at "peace" with Jabin, the Canaanite king, even though Jabin was at war with the rest of Israel. HOWBEIT SISERA FLED AWAY ON HIS FEET TO THE TENT OF JAEL THE WIFE OF HEBER THE KENITE: FOR THERE WAS PEACE BETWEEN JABIN THE KING OF HAZOR AND THE HOUSE OF HEBER THE KENITE [Judges 4:17]. In the time of Saul also we find the Kenites dwelling amongst the Amalekties even though Amalek was at war with Israel. Nevertheless Saul treats them as long-lost allies and advises them to get out of the way lest the wrath of war overtake them. Balaam prophesied about the Kenites in the last days: AND HE LOOKED ON THE KENITES, AND TOOK UP HIS PARABLE, AND SAID, STRONG IS THY DWELLING PLACE, AND THOU PUTTEST THY NEST IN A ROCK. NEVERTHELESS THE KENITE SHALL BE WASTED, UNTIL ASSHUR SHALL CARRY THEE AWAY CAPTIVE [Numbers 24:21-22]. The Kenites here are those who came together with Jethro and attached themselves in part to the Children of Israel. They always remained as a somewhat separate group. They were exiled by the Assyrians with the Ten Tribes. They are destined to return with them (Rashi). Traditionally the Kenites were derived from Midian and were much darker than most Israelites. Who could they be today? The Druze in Israel revere Jethro and consider him their forefather. The Druze appear to consider themselves distantly related to both the British and the Jews. The Druze probably came from Persia and migrated to Lebanon, Syria, and Israel before the Muslim conquest. They adopted a secret religion that believes in re-incarnation. Traditionally they believed themselves to be related to the French and British and according to Sheik Tarif (one of their most revered religious leaders) also to the Jews. [The name Druze was been linked to Druid and Celtic attributes ascribed to them]. The Druze in Israel serve in the Israeli Army. They make good, brave soldiers. On the whole they are patriotic Israelis. Their language is Arabic and their physical type of similar to that of the Christians in Lebanon who however were their traditional rivals. That the Druids are descended from the Kenites of Jethro is one possibility but perhaps there are others? Nahum SLOUSCHZ ("Les Hebreo-Pheniciens. Introduction a ire Des Origines de la Colonisation Hebraique dans les Pays Mediteranee," Paris 1909) pointed to evidence indicating that the Kenites may have gone to Africa. The Rechabites about whom many legends have been related were part of the Kenites (1-Chronicles 2:55). The Rechabites did not live in houses or drink wine (Jeremiah 35:2-6). They became figures of admiration for the Prohibitionist Movement in the USA. The army of Saul consisted of 210,000 conscripted warriors. This is similar in size to the present Israeli Army which reportedly has 185,000 full-time soldiers of which 141,000 are ground forces. If the IDF calls up its reserves it has about 631,000 troops. Syria and Egypt can put together ca 700,000 troops but their combined military budget is half that of Israel. Israel has also to contend with the Palestinians, Jordanians, and stated threats from the entire Muslim world including Iran, Pakistan, and even Turkey, not to speak of potential enemies such as Russia, Korea, China, and the EU. Until recently the Palestinian official Terror Apparatus was being bankrolled mainly by Japan. The fact is that a good portion of the natiopns of the earth could easily became active enemies of the State of Israel at a moment's notice with no provocation. From: Drsyke@aol.com Subject: Re: 1-Samuel 15-1 In a message dated 3/10/2005 10:52:06 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, britam@netvision.net.il writes: [1-Samuel 15:4] AND SAUL GATHERED THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND NUMBERED THEM IN TELAIM, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND FOOTMEN, AND TEN THOUSAND MEN OF JUDAH. "TELAIM": Altogether a force of 210,000 soldiers was raised which is quite a body. 10,000 came from Judah and the rest from the other tribes. From the very beginning a distinction was maintained between Judah and the rest of Israel. Yair HI is there any indication as to why this distinction was made and how it was explained to the tribes back then? One would think it kind of odd to make this distinction if you were living at the time without knowing prospectively the course of Israelite history regards DM New Jersey Answer: The Biblical records were written by the Prophets and as such are Divinely Inspired. Not everything that was written at the time was necessarily entirely clear to all those living at the time. The Natziv remarks that from the very beginning Judah was known for keeping and explaining the LAW whereas the other tribes emphasized the more social aspects of existence. Tension also existed between Joseph and Judah from the beginning. The struggle for leadership in one sense dates back to their very forefathers who went down to Egypt. Cf. "NOW THE SONS OF REUBEN THE FIRSTBORN OF ISRAEL, FOR HE WAS THE FIRSTBORN; BUT FORASMUCH AS HE DEFILED HIS FATHER'S BED, HIS BIRTHRIGHT WAS GIVEN UNTO THE SONS OF JOSEPH THE SON OF ISRAEL: AND THE GENEALOGY IS NOT TO BE RECKONED AFTER THE BIRTHRIGHT. " FOR JUDAH PREVAILED ABOVE HIS BRETHREN, AND OF HIM CAME THE CHIEF RULER; BUT THE BIRTHRIGHT WAS JOSEPH'S [1-Chronicles 5:1-2] [1-Samuel 15:7] AND SAUL SMOTE THE AMALEKITES FROM HAVILAH UNTIL THOU COMEST TO SHUR, THAT IS OVER AGAINST EGYPT. [1-Samuel 15:8] AND HE TOOK AGAG THE KING OF THE AMALEKITES ALIVE, AND UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD. [1-Samuel 15:9] BUT SAUL AND THE PEOPLE SPARED AGAG, AND THE BEST OF THE SHEEP, AND OF THE OXEN, AND OF THE FATLINGS, AND THE LAMBS, AND ALL THAT WAS GOOD, AND WOULD NOT UTTERLY DESTROY THEM: BUT EVERY THING THAT WAS VILE AND REFUSE, THAT THEY DESTROYED UTTERLY. They wiped out all the people and all that appeared undesirable. They spared Agag apparently because he was "Royalty". Similarly in the Russian Revolution of 1917 the Bolsheviks took over Russia and killed a lot of innocent people and caused much suffering. They also wiped out the Czar and Czarina and their children. The Czar and Czarina were (from my understanding of the historical records) quite criminally oppressive murderous types and entirely unsympathetic. Nevertheless out of all the crimes the Bolsheviks actually committed killing the Czar and Czarina is what they are often noted for whereas far more horrible offences seem to be forgotten. At all events the fact that Saul and the people did carry out the most "horrific" part of what they had been commanded indicates that their omission concerning Agag and the "good stuff" was not necessarily motivated by what some would term noble sentiments. The people were not rich. They probably had dire need of what they were commanded to destroy. Much of what they had had in the past had been taken from them by Philistine and over foreign oppressors. The Amalekites were their enemy and were not mostly dead. Why should they not keep back for the sake of their families and their future part of the livestock and the useful goods? It was customary in wars for the victors to take booty from the defeated. Saul himself had accustomed the people to do so: "AND SAUL SAID, LET US GO DOWN AFTER THE PHILISTINES BY NIGHT, AND SPOIL THEM UNTIL THE MORNING LIGHT.." [1-Samuel 14:36]. [1-Samuel 15:10] THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO SAMUEL, SAYING, [1-Samuel 15:11] IT REPENTETH ME THAT I HAVE SET UP SAUL TO BE KING: FOR HE IS TURNED BACK FROM FOLLOWING ME, AND HATH NOT PERFORMED MY COMMANDMENTS. AND IT GRIEVED SAMUEL; AND HE CRIED UNTO THE LORD ALL NIGHT. "IT REPENTETH ME": This was the second offence of Saul. Before the battle of Micmash against the Philistines Saul had offered the sacrifice instead of waiting for the arrival of Samuel as he had been commanded to (1-Samuel 13:8-11). Already after that first offence Saul had been informed thatb eventually God would take the kingdom from him and give to another (1-Samuel 13:14). David was also destined to sin yet the kingdom was not taken from him. What was the difference between the offence of Saul and that of David? Rabbi Yoseph Albo (1380-1444, Spain) answered that the sins of Saul directly concerned the office of Royalty whereas those of David were more of a private nature therefore the punishment of David would remain at the personal level. This answer is not entirely convincing and a whole book (by Bachrach) that is well worth reading has been written on the subject. "ALL NIGHT": Samuel cried to God for the sake of Saul all night long. This emphasizes the bonding between Samuel and Saul. Saul in many respects was the "creation" of Samuel. Remember what we wrote on this subject previously (see 1-Samuel 10:27). [1-Samuel 15:12] AND WHEN SAMUEL ROSE EARLY TO MEET SAUL IN THE MORNING, IT WAS TOLD SAMUEL, SAYING, SAUL CAME TO CARMEL, AND, BEHOLD, HE SET HIM UP A PLACE, AND IS GONE ABOUT, AND PASSED ON, AND GONE DOWN TO GILGAL. [1-Samuel 15:13] AND SAMUEL CAME TO SAUL: AND SAUL SAID UNTO HIM, BLESSED BE THOU OF THE LORD: I HAVE PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD. [1-Samuel 15:14] AND SAMUEL SAID, WHAT MEANETH THEN THIS BLEATING OF THE SHEEP IN MINE EARS, AND THE LOWING OF THE OXEN WHICH I HEAR? [1-Samuel 15:15] AND SAUL SAID, THEY HAVE BROUGHT THEM FROM THE AMALEKITES: FOR THE PEOPLE SPARED THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND OF THE OXEN, TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD THY GOD; AND THE REST WE HAVE UTTERLY DESTROYED. "THE PEOPLE SPARED": Saul put the blame on the people. He tried to avoid the responsibility. [1-Samuel 15:16] THEN SAMUEL SAID UNTO SAUL, STAY, AND I WILL TELL THEE WHAT THE LORD HATH SAID TO ME THIS NIGHT. AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, SAY ON. [1-Samuel 15:17] AND SAMUEL SAID, WHEN THOU WAST LITTLE IN THINE OWN SIGHT, WAST THOU NOT MADE THE HEAD OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, AND THE LORD ANOINTED THEE KING OVER ISRAEL? [1-Samuel 15:18] AND THE LORD SENT THEE ON A JOURNEY, AND SAID, GO AND UTTERLY DESTROY THE SINNERS THE AMALEKITES, AND FIGHT AGAINST THEM UNTIL THEY BE CONSUMED. [1-Samuel 15:19] WHEREFORE THEN DIDST THOU NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD, BUT DIDST FLY UPON THE SPOIL, AND DIDST EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD? [1-Samuel 15:20] AND SAUL SAID UNTO SAMUEL, YEA, I HAVE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD, AND HAVE GONE THE WAY WHICH THE LORD SENT ME, AND HAVE BROUGHT AGAG THE KING OF AMALEK, AND HAVE UTTERLY DESTROYED THE AMALEKITES. [1-Samuel 15:21] BUT THE PEOPLE TOOK OF THE SPOIL, SHEEP AND OXEN, THE CHIEF OF THE THINGS WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN UTTERLY DESTROYED, TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD THY GOD IN GILGAL. [1-Samuel 15:22] AND SAMUEL SAID, HATH THE LORD AS GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS. God wants us primarily to obey Him, to do HIS will. [1-Samuel 15:23] FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT, AND STUBBORNNESS IS AS INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY. BECAUSE THOU HAST REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HE HATH ALSO REJECTED THEE FROM BEING KING. [1-Samuel 15:24] AND SAUL SAID UNTO SAMUEL, I HAVE SINNED: FOR I HAVE TRANSGRESSED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, AND THY WORDS: BECAUSE I FEARED THE PEOPLE, AND OBEYED THEIR VOICE. [1-Samuel 15:25] NOW THEREFORE, I PRAY THEE, PARDON MY SIN, AND TURN AGAIN WITH ME, THAT I MAY WORSHIP THE LORD. Saul was a truly great man in many ways. [1-Samuel 15:26] AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO SAUL, I WILL NOT RETURN WITH THEE: FOR THOU HAST REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND THE LORD HATH REJECTED THEE FROM BEING KING OVER ISRAEL. [1-Samuel 15:27] AND AS SAMUEL TURNED ABOUT TO GO AWAY, HE LAID HOLD UPON THE SKIRT OF HIS MANTLE, AND IT RENT. [1-Samuel 15:28] AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO HIM, THE LORD HATH RENT THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL FROM THEE THIS DAY, AND HATH GIVEN IT TO A NEIGHBOUR OF THINE, THAT IS BETTER THAN THOU. Here the name of the "neighbor", i.e. fellow [candidate], is not given but after Samuel dies and is spoken to in a vision (1-Samuel 28:17) the "neighbor" is mentioned as David. This was discussed by the Sages and Classical Commentators. Yehoshua Bachrach wrote a book in Hebrew ("Mah Bein Shaul le-David?") describing the discussion. Samuel after he died appeared unto Saul and said: "AND THE LORD HATH DONE TO HIM, AS HE SPAKE BY ME: FOR THE LORD HATH RENT THE KINGDOM OUT OF THINE HAND, AND GIVEN IT TO THY NEIGHBOUR, EVEN TO DAVID" [1-Samuel 28:17]. The "NEIGHBOUR" to whom the kingdom would be given is mentioned twice: Once without a name and once with. The first time it is stated that he IS BETTER THAN THOU and the second time it is not. The sources say that the first time was in the "World of Falsehood" i.e. this world and the second time in the "World of Truth" i.e. of Eternity. The first time one explanation says that Samuel had to be afraid of his own safety and that of David and therefore he could not mention him by name. This is what is meant when the first time the statement was made in the "World of Falsehood". Another explanation (quoted from the Zohar) says that by standards of this world (the "World of Falsehood") David compared to Saul indeed was "A NEIGHBOUR OF THINE, THAT IS BETTER THAN THOU". By the standards of the Next World (the "World of Truth") however David was David and Saul was Saul. By the standards of this world David was more qualified than Saul to be king. From one point of view David in effect was destined to be king from the beginning. Saul was more of a temporary monarch. If Saul had proved worthy his line would have continued as deputy monarchs under the overall rule of the line of David. Double Monarchies have been known in history and one such arrangement was found in the Kingdom of the Khazars. [1-Samuel 15:29] AND ALSO THE STRENGTH OF ISRAEL WILL NOT LIE NOR REPENT: FOR HE IS NOT A MAN, THAT HE SHOULD REPENT. The Promises of the Almighty will be fulfilled. So too the Prophecies in the Bible concerning the Lost ten Tribes must come to pass. God is not a man that his word will fail. [1-Samuel 15:30] THEN HE SAID, I HAVE SINNED: YET HONOUR ME NOW, I PRAY THEE, BEFORE THE ELDERS OF MY PEOPLE, AND BEFORE ISRAEL, AND TURN AGAIN WITH ME, THAT I MAY WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD. Previously (1-Samuel 15:15, 24) Saul had twice tried to blame the people for his own omission. Now he admits his sin. He requested that Samuel show him honor both for his own sake in front of the elders and People of Israel and ALSO that he would merit once again to give honor to the Almighty God of Israel. [1-Samuel 15:31] SO SAMUEL TURNED AGAIN AFTER SAUL; AND SAUL WORSHIPPED THE LORD. Samuel listened to Saul and gave him the honor. [1-Samuel 15:32] THEN SAID SAMUEL, BRING YE HITHER TO ME AGAG THE KING OF THE AMALEKITES. AND AGAG CAME UNTO HIM DELICATELY. AND AGAG SAID, SURELY THE BITTERNESS OF DEATH IS PAST. "DELICATELY"; He behave in an affected manner, like Royalty is sometimes expected to. [1-Samuel 15:33] AND SAMUEL SAID, AS THE SWORD HATH MADE WOMEN CHILDLESS, SO SHALL THY MOTHER BE CHILDLESS AMONG WOMEN. AND SAMUEL HEWED AGAG IN PIECES BEFORE THE LORD IN GILGAL. Samuel did this himself. "AS THE SWORD":In Hebrew "charbecha", your sword. The sword of Agag had killed others and caused bereavement. "HATH MADE WOMEN CHILDLESS: Agag was a war criminal and oppressor of others. [1-Samuel 15:34] THEN SAMUEL WENT TO RAMAH; AND SAUL WENT UP TO HIS HOUSE TO GIBEAH OF SAUL. "GIBEAH OF SAUL": In Modern Hebrew "Givat-Shaul". The present-day suburb of "Givat-Shaul" is on the outskirts of Jerusalem as you come in from the road to Tel-Aviv. It is an industrial and residential area. [1-Samuel 15:35] AND SAMUEL CAME NO MORE TO SEE SAUL UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS DEATH: NEVERTHELESS SAMUEL MOURNED FOR SAUL: AND THE LORD REPENTED THAT HE HAD MADE SAUL KING OVER ISRAEL. Samuel mourned for Saul. Scripture emphasizes (as we have noted several times already) the deep emotional and spiritual linkage between the Prophet Samuel and King Saul. King Saul was the first "official" king of Israel. Moses and Joshua and some of the Judges may have held a parallel position but Saul was the first to be actually named "KING". Scripture gives us a summarization dwelling on points that are important for us to know and passing over others. Here and there the Commentators see hints to the effect that King Saul was actually a much greater man than we would think from a cursory reading of the text. 1-Samuel 15 Continued and a Note on Purim From: Mike in AZ Subject: Re: 1-Samuel 15-3 Hello, Perhaps you can give us a more detailed explanation of the "skirt of his mantle" in verse 27? Thank you. Mike Bacan [1-Samuel 15:26] AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO SAUL, I WILL NOT RETURN WITH THEE: FOR THOU HAST REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND THE LORD HATH REJECTED THEE FROM BEING KING OVER ISRAEL. [1-Samuel 15:27] AND AS SAMUEL TURNED ABOUT TO GO AWAY, HE LAID HOLD UPON THE SKIRT OF HIS MANTLE, AND IT RENT. [1-Samuel 15:28] AND SAMUEL SAID UNTO HIM, THE LORD HATH RENT THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL FROM THEE THIS DAY, AND HATH GIVEN IT TO A NEIGHBOUR OF THINE, THAT IS BETTER THAN THOU. I received the above request just before (by "chance") purchasing a new commentary ("Shmuel-A" by Shimeon Bar-Ephrat in the Hebrew series "Mikra Le-Yisrael" sponsored by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem) that discusses (p.8) the subject briefly: "When he was little his mother used to make him a coast (mantle) every year and bring it to him when she came to Shiloh. It was obviously evidence of her longing and deep love for the son she had waited for, for so long, and in the end waived her right to (1-Samuel 2:19). Later Saul was to tear the skirt of the mantle of Samuel and the Prophet immediately interpreted this as a sign that the kingdom would be torn from him (1-Samuel 15:27-28). The mantle was so characteristic of Samuel that even after his death when the Mistress of the Familiar Spirit raised him up from the dead and described him as "AN OLD MAN COVERED WITH A MANTLE" Saul identified him as Samuel (1-Samuel 28:14)." The mantle may be seen to represent the dedication of Samuel to the service of the Almighty, of his life's mission. Samuel bridges the Period of the Judges with that of the Monarchs. Samuel was the last of the Judges and the Prophet who anointed both Saul and David as King. Nevertheless as we have seen Samuel was always closer in his spirit to Saul. Tearing the mantle symbolized the breakage of what Samuel had wished to give his life for. In a sense tearing the mantle symbolized the tearing away of the Kingdom from Joseph (represented by Saul of Benjamin son of Rachel yet considered part of the House of Joseph see 2-Samuel 19:16-20). Later the Kingdom would be torn from Judah and given mainly to Joseph (1-Kings 11:11). This too would be symbolized by the tearing of a garment. [1-Kings 11:29] AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME WHEN JEROBOAM WENT OUT OF JERUSALEM, THAT THE PROPHET AHIJAH THE SHILONITE FOUND HIM IN THE WAY; AND HE HAD CLAD HIMSELF WITH A NEW GARMENT; AND THEY TWO WERE ALONE IN THE FIELD: [1-Kings 11:30] AND AHIJAH CAUGHT THE NEW GARMENT THAT WAS ON HIM, AND RENT IT IN TWELVE PIECES: [1-Kings 11:31] AND HE SAID TO JEROBOAM, TAKE THEE TEN PIECES: FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, BEHOLD, I WILL REND THE KINGDOM OUT OF THE HAND OF SOLOMON, AND WILL GIVE TEN TRIBES TO THEE: [1-Kings 11:32] (BUT HE SHALL HAVE ONE TRIBE FOR MY SERVANT DAVID'S SAKE, AND FOR JERUSALEM'S SAKE, THE CITY WHICH I HAVE CHOSEN OUT OF ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL:) We see from the above the importance of motives and symbolism in the Biblical story and of recurring themes in a cyclical pattern. We are now nearing the Festival of Purim (25 th March in most places, 26 th march in Jerusalem and other cities in the Land of Israel). The Festival of Purim is built around the Book of Esther. The book of Esther tells how Mordecai and his niece Esther saved the Jews of the Persian Empire from extermination at the hands of Haman. We saw how King Saul lost the Kigdom because he did not immediately kill Agag the King of the Amalekites. Consequently it was stated that the Kingdom would be given to "A NEIGHBOUR OF THINE, THAT IS BETTER THAN THOU" [1-Samuel 15:28]. The Story of Esther tells how the wife of the King of Persia, AHASUERUS, offended him and so it was decided that her office should be given to another: "LET THE KING GIVE HER ROYAL ESTATE UNTO ANOTHER THAT IS BETTER THAN SHE" [Esther 1:19]. Consequently Esther was chosen. The giving of the Kingdom to another that is "BETTER THAN" the one holding it in the two cases of Saul and Vashti the deposed Queen of Persia suggest an association. Esther was a descendant of King Saul (also called "Kish" Esther 2:5) and the Midrash says that her being chosen as Queen was a kind of belated compensation for King Saul. Haman the counsellor of the King of Persia was a descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1) whom Saul had failed to kill. According to tradition after his capture and in the brief time before the arrival of Samuel his delayed execution Agag managed to have intercourse with a pagan serving maid and so continue his line from which emerged Haman. In the Book of Esther it relates how Haman attempted to destroyed the Jewish people but is foiled by Mordechai and Esther and he himself with his sons is put to death (Esther 7:10 9:10). It was as if Esther and Mordecai the descendants of Saul were able to rectify the offence of their forefather. BACK TO SAMUEL INDEX HOME