{"id":59144,"date":"2019-07-09T14:33:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T11:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=59144"},"modified":"2023-01-31T22:09:14","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T20:09:14","slug":"saul-finds-no-comfort-between-gilboa-and-tabor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/saul-finds-no-comfort-between-gilboa-and-tabor\/","title":{"rendered":"Saul Finds No Comfort Between Gilboa And Tabor\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[519,373,885],"acf":{"old_id":"59144","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":34245,"related_cahpter":"260","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"\u2018Tomorrow your sons and you will be with me\u2019 - said the ghost","content":"

As his last night spread above the Jezreel valley, King Saul prepared to ride down the slopes of Mount Gilboa. Ahead of him, and across a narrow stretch of valley, his enemies were gathering for war. Beyond them Moreh Hill stretched its arms from east to west, and further still En-Dor lay hidden, and within it, Saul\u2019s only hope for counsel. Beyond it all, Mount Tabor\u2019s silhouette arched against the sky, like a rounded belly, like the promise of new life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once upon a time, Barak led men from Mount Tabor and earned a victory against all odds. Perhaps King Saul thought of that victory as he rode down the slopes and straight across the valley, braving the proximity of his enemies\u2019 camp. Barak won, but not without prophetic counsel. And Saul rode in search of similar advice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe he looked up at Mount Tabor and thought: it\u2019s worth the risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Saul\u2019s ride led him to the place, and ghost, he hoped for. And If you will follow in his footsteps, you could find En-Dor as well. You won\u2019t face Philistines, but you will have to navigate without the help of signage. You won\u2019t have to disguise yourself in \u201cdifferent clothes\u201d, but you will have to drive off the road and through someone\u2019s rows of olives. And at the end, you will find the place you sought but nothing much besides it: a green sign and some beehives will be your only prize. No visitor center will welcome you with maps or souvenirs or candy. No monument will loom above to tell you of King Saul\u2019s nighttime ride.<\/span><\/p>\n

But perhaps this very absence is the most appropriate commemoration, for Saul, too, reached En-Dor but didn\u2019t find there what he sought. He found his prophet, but his efforts didn\u2019t earn him counsel. He found out the future, but there was naught within it that could give him hope.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I stood in En-Dor between the beehives and the brambles, I looked ahead to Mount Tabor, and thought of Saul\u2019s disappointment. \u201cTomorrow your sons and you will be with me,\u201d said Samuel\u2019s spirit, and perhaps there was some comfort \u2013 cold comfort to be sure\u2013 in this promise. Did Saul feel it as he turned his back on Mount Tabor and on the hope of Godly aid and counsel? Was it this comfort that spurred him on, as he rode back and to his death<\/span><\/p>\n

It took courage to ride out to En-Dor and pass so close to battle-hungry enemies. But perhaps it took a greater courage to ride back.<\/span><\/p>\n

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