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1 Samuel 23:29 (24:1 in the Hebrew Bible) reports David's move to Engedi in the hilly area around the Dead Sea, while Saul, returning from a battle with the Philistines, was pursuing. [15] The section emphasizes two points: (1) David could have easily killed Saul and thereby seized the kingship, but (2) he resisted the temptation to kill 'the ...
Saul (/ s ɔː l /; Hebrew: שָׁאוּל , Šāʾūl; Greek: Σαούλ, Saoúl; transl. "asked/prayed for") was a monarch of ancient Israel and Judah and, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, the first king of the United Monarchy, a polity of uncertain historicity.
The phrase translated 'relieving himself' in NRSV literally in Hebrew reads 'pouring out' or 'covering his feet' ('the feet' is a biblical euphemism for the male member), so it could mean urinating or defecating, in any event, indicating Eglon's vulnerability and unmanning (cf. Saul in the cave; 1 Samuel 24:1–7). [23]
Saul gathers an army and obliterates Nahash's army. The people take this as evidence of Saul's ability to lead, and appoint him king. PEOPLE: Nahash - Saul - Spirit of God - יהוה YHVH - Children of Israel - Samuel. PLACES: Jabesh-Gilead - Gibeah - Bezek - Gilgal. RELATED ARTICLES: Ammon - Tribe of Judah
Saul's guilt was described in the selection of words for his action: disobedience (verse 19), doing evil (verse 19), rebellion (verse 23), stubbornness (verse 23), rejection of God's word (verse 23), as Saul admitted himself that what he did was a sin and transgression (verse 24). [15]
Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? [23] "Stripped off his clothes": may be symbolic to the loss of his kingdom, just as Saul's tearing of Samuel's clothes signifying the tearing away of Saul's kingdom (1 Samuel 15:27–28) and Jonathan giving his clothes to David signifying the acceding of his throne to the latter (1 Samuel 18:1).
Saul was appointed as a king to save his people 'from the hand of their enemies' (10:1), specifically the Philistines (9:16), that had a strong presence in the central hill country of Israel, were able to send out bands of raiders into different territories of Israel and controlled the manufacture of metal equipments for agricultural and weapons. [10]
The narrative bears some features of folk-tales: a young man setting out to find his father's missing donkeys comes out as designated king. [15] Saul's search led him to the prophet Samuel, who privately anointed Saul as king and provided three signs as confirmation to its legitimacy, [14] all of which were fulfilled in 1 Samuel 10:2–7. [16]