{"id":57502,"date":"2018-07-09T17:43:07","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-244\/"},"modified":"2023-01-11T08:36:29","modified_gmt":"2023-01-11T06:36:29","slug":"wall-244","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-244\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-I Samuel-12"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"244","date":"20260805","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"57646","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"I Samuel Chapter 12 - Read by Michael Bernstein ","post_title":"I Samuel Chapter 12 - Read by Michael Bernstein","slug":"i-samuel-chapter-12-read-by-michael-bernstein","old_id":"57646","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"I Samuel 12","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"read by Michael Bernstein","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_I_Samuel_Chapter_12_read_by_Michael_Bernstein","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"57676","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Listening to the Prophets with Rabbi Abby Sosland- I Samuel 12 ","post_title":"Listening to the Prophets with Rabbi Abby Sosland- I Samuel 12","slug":"listening-to-the-prophets-with-rabbi-abby-sosland-i-samuel-12","old_id":"57676","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56624,"post_title":"Abby Sosland","slug":"abby-sosland","old_id":"56624","first_name":"Abby ","last_name":"Sosland","description":"Rabbi Abby Sosland is a spiritual advisor, writer, and educator, based at The Leffell School in Westchester, New York. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"That is, they want a king - despite serious pushback from Samuel","post_main_content_content":"

Samuel will ultimately appoint two kings, but he is also one of the most vocal critics of having a king. Chapter 12 is Samuel\u2019s extended chastisement of the people for asking for a king. Samuel makes a direct connection between the people\u2019s rejection of him as their leader and the Korah rebellion in Numbers. Samuel calls out to the people:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Here I am! Testify against me, in the presence of the LORD and in the presence of His anointed one: Whose ox have I taken, or whose ass have I taken? Whom have I defrauded or whom have I robbed? From whom have I taken a bribe to look the other way?<\/span> I will return it to you.\u201d (verse 3).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Moses says something similar to God in the Korah story::<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Moses was much aggrieved and he said to God: \u2018Pay no regard to their oblation. I have not taken the ass of any one of them, nor have I wronged any one of them.\u2019\u201d (Num. 16:16).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is also another subtle connection. At the beginning of chapter 11, Nachash, the king of Amon, threatened to cut out the eyes of the inhabitants of Ja\u05e0esh-Gil\u05e7ad. In Numbers, Datan and Aviram tell Moses:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You have not even brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and given us possession of fields and vineyards, should you gouge out the eyes of those involved?\u00a0 We will not come! (Numbers 16:14)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gouging out the eyes was punishment for runaway slaves and rebellious vassals (cf. 2 Kings 25.4\u20137; Jer. 39.4\u20137; 52.7\u201311). \u201cThose involved\u201d (NJPS \u201cthose men\u201d) is a euphemism for self-reference (cf. 1 Sam. 29.4).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Samuel links the two stories to show his displeasure with the people\u2019s request for a king. But he also shields himself from criticism. Based on the text, the people came to Samuel to ask for a king back in chapter 8. The reason they asked for a king was because Samuel\u2019s two sons were not living up to their father\u2019s leadership and started taking bribes. But in this chapter, Samuel says that the people approached him to ask for a new king after Nachash attacked. In the text, Nachash\u2019s attack happens after Saul is anointed, but before his coronation. Why does Samuel change the story?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Abarbanel lays out the timeline as follows: 1) the people asked for a king as explained in chapter 8, 2) Samuel admonishes the people for their choice, 3) God is angry so he sends Nachash to attack as a punishment, 4) the people do not realize that Nachash\u2019s attack is a punishment, so they double down on the request. Samuel is referring to this second request. Because they doubled down, Samuel unleashes an extended attack on the kingship in this chapter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":60642,"alt":"","title":"2sam15-populism","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism.jpg","width":1024,"height":601,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-300x176.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":176,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-768x451.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":451,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-1024x601.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":601,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":601,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":601,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":601,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-716x420.jpg","home_baner-width":716,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The People Double Down","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"That is, they want a king - despite serious pushback from Samuel","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":60642,"alt":"","title":"2sam15-populism","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism.jpg","width":1024,"height":601,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-300x176.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":176,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-768x451.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":451,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-1024x601.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":601,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":601,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":601,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":601,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam15-populism-716x420.jpg","home_baner-width":716,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"835","name":"King","old_id":"1235"},{"term_id":"839","name":"Samuel","old_id":"1239"},{"term_id":"885","name":"Saul","old_id":"1285"}]},{"order":4,"id":"57630","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Is It Not The Wheat Harvest Today? 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I will pray to the Lord and he will send thunder and rain","post_main_content_content":"

Mixed-media work by Michal Nachmany, courtesy of the artist<\/p>\r\n

Michal dedicates her work in memory to her father Shamai Zweigreich z\u201dl \u00a0and her grandfather \u00a0Yisrael Zweigreich z\u201dl, who loved studying Bible and Talmud.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57663,"alt":"","title":"isam12","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12.jpg","width":705,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-207x300.jpg","medium-width":207,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-705x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":705,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-705x1024.jpg","large-width":705,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12.jpg","1536x1536-width":705,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12.jpg","2048x2048-width":705,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12.jpg","post_full_size-width":705,"post_full_size-height":1024,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-289x420.jpg","home_baner-width":289,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"I Sam 12:17","tile_main_caption":"Is It Not The Wheat Harvest Today? ","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"I will pray to the Lord and he will send thunder and rain","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":57663,"alt":"","title":"isam12","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12.jpg","width":705,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-207x300.jpg","medium-width":207,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-705x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":705,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-705x1024.jpg","large-width":705,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12.jpg","1536x1536-width":705,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12.jpg","2048x2048-width":705,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12.jpg","post_full_size-width":705,"post_full_size-height":1024,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-289x420.jpg","home_baner-width":289,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":5,"id":"57643","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Reign That Began With Rain ","post_title":"The Reign That Began With Rain","slug":"the-reign-that-began-with-rain","old_id":"57643","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34245,"post_title":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger","slug":"rachel-sharansky-danziger","old_id":"34245","first_name":"Rachel Sharansky","last_name":"Danziger","description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born writer and speaker who blogs about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. She currently lives in Boston, where she teaches about storytelling in the bible and the subversive depths of Hebrew words.\r\n","short_description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born Boston-based writer and speaker about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34246,"alt":"","title":"RSDanziger","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","width":1171,"height":1769,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":678,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","large-width":678,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","1536x1536-width":1017,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","2048x2048-width":1171,"2048x2048-height":1769,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-794x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Foreshadowing a series of ill-fortuned misalignments","post_main_content_content":"

Samuel prays for rain to show the people what a \u201cwicked thing\u201d they did when they asked for a king (12:17). But his method seems oddly misaligned with his message. Samuel rejects the people\u2019s request as equivalent to their stints of idolatry. But for all this harsh condemnation, a rainstorm is hardly a symbol of wickedness. Samuel\u2019s rain is only harmful because of the season; had it been winter, the storm might have been perceived as a blessing from God. Is Samuel hinting that the people\u2019s request for a king wouldn\u2019t have been a betrayal of God under different circumstances? Is he saying that it is only comparable to idolatry some of the time?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps. But even if Samuel\u2019s rainstorm isn\u2019t meant as a comment about what preceded it, it certainly sets the tone for what follows it: Saul\u2019s difficulties in ruling come down to different types of misalignments. Saul\u2019s actions are misaligned with Samuel\u2019s timetable: he offers sacrifices, as he should, but without waiting for Samuel\u2019s arrival (ch. 13). Saul\u2019s intentions are misaligned with the reality he is trying to shape: he makes an oath that\u2019s meant to rally the people to keep fighting, but instead, it condemns his heroic son, who certainly didn\u2019t require rallying (ch. 14). Saul\u2019s execution of God\u2019s orders is misaligned with God\u2019s full vision: Saul acts on his own instincts and the people\u2019s request in his Amalekite campaign, and loses God\u2019s favor irrevocably (ch. 15). What would have been an appropriate show of mercy under different circumstances \u2013 sparing enemy lives \u2013 \u00a0becomes a show of weakness instead, and disqualifies Saul in God\u2019s eyes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Can we truly blame Saul for these blunders? Saul was tasked with an impossible mission: he had to establish a new form of government and be a true king of Israel as well as an obedient servant of God. He had to align his actions with his own role (after all, Samuel told him to \u201cact when the occasion arises, for God is with you\u201d when he anointed him), God\u2019s orders, and the need to preserve his authority in the eyes of the people. How could he NOT fail to align all these demands?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Tragically, Saul\u2019s streak of misalignments got worse after God rejected him. His attempts to be rid of David bolstered the latter\u2019s popularity, his late-to-appear ruthlessness made its unfortunate debut in a case that called for mercy, and he ended his life in pursuit of a man he loved and against his own better judgement. The king whose reign began with a rain in summer ended his life misaligned even with himself.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57667,"alt":"","title":"isam12-rain","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain.jpg","width":1920,"height":1919,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1919,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Reign That Began With Rain","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Foreshadowing a series of ill-fortuned misalignments","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":57667,"alt":"","title":"isam12-rain","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain.jpg","width":1920,"height":1919,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1919,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-rain-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"780","name":"Rain","old_id":"1180"},{"term_id":"885","name":"Saul","old_id":"1285"},{"term_id":"886","name":"Failure","old_id":"1286"}]},{"order":6,"id":"57672","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Third Time\u2019s A Charm ","post_title":"Third Time\u2019s A Charm","slug":"third-times-a-charm","old_id":"57672","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":47903,"post_title":"Aviva Golbert","slug":"aviva-golbert","old_id":"47903","first_name":"Aviva ","last_name":"Golbert ","description":"Aviva Golbert is the Director of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators. Aviva is a Jewish educator with over twenty years of experience in curriculum development, classroom teaching, school administration and educational consulting. Upon making Aliyah in 1996, Aviva developed formal and informal educational materials for Melitz and at the Leo Baeck Education Center. She then served as the head of the department of Jewish Studies at Immanuel College, London.","short_description":"Aviva Golbert is the Director of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":47904,"alt":"","title":"aviva golbert","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782.jpg","width":1639,"height":1811,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782-272x300.jpg","medium-width":272,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782-768x849.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":849,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782-927x1024.jpg","large-width":927,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782.jpg","1536x1536-width":1390,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":1811,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782-1086x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1086,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/aviva-golbert-e1548150612782-380x420.jpg","home_baner-width":380,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Most kings only need one coronation","post_main_content_content":"

Queen Elizabeth II had but one coronation. It was in June of 1953.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Technically, she had ascended the throne more than a year earlier, in February 1952, after her father, King George VI, died. So you may count that as her having had two crownings. But no more than that.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When Charles, Prince of Wales, eventually became king \u2013 and his son William, and his son George after him \u2013 one imagines that each of those monarchs will have one coronation, or two, tops.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why then does Saul, the first king of Israel, endure three whole coronations?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And it's not just the over-the-top number that makes Saul's ceremony in I Samuel 12 different. Elizabeth's day in 1953 was filled with pageantry, pomp and circumstance. It cost more than 1.5 million GBP. Three million spectators gathered in the streets for a glimpse of the new queen. And, for the first time, a British coronation was televised, and millions watched from the comfort of their living rooms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Saul's ceremony, in contrast, was downright gloomy. We understand from Samuel that it took place during the season of the wheat harvest, which takes place in early summer, post-Shavuot. And yet, the service ends under a literal cloud. Samuel invokes God to send thunder and rain as a meteorological sign that the Israelites had done grave wrong in asking for a king in the first place. The storm is both an indication of and a punishment for their \"evil.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps a hint of why Samuel felt the need to call yet another coronation can be found in the guest list. In Saul's second crowning, found in chapter 10, Samuel musters \"the people\" at Mizpah. Here, in this third episode, \"all the people\" go to Gilgal to renew the kingship. Samuel speaks in our chapter to \"all Israel.\" It seems then that he has called a third coronation where he has gathered everyone, so everyone can hear what he has to say. And what he has to say has very little to do with the new king himself. It is all about God, whose very name is the leitwort<\/em> of the chapter. God is the only true king of Israel. God is the only true savior and warrior of Israel. And the entire nation is gathered at Gilgal to hear that theme. The only character who seems to be missing from the chapter is the king himself. Perhaps he is yet again hiding behind the baggage. He at least knows his place. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57673,"alt":"","title":"isam12-coronation","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation.png","width":1920,"height":1371,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation-300x214.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":214,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation-768x548.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":548,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation-1024x731.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":731,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1097,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1371,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation-1200x857.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":857,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-coronation-588x420.png","home_baner-width":588,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Third 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Blumenthal and filmed by Ardon Bar-Hama)","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/cz5vsZX1a6Q","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":8,"id":"57687","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"We Get The Leaders We Ask For - And That We Deserve ","post_title":"We Get The Leaders We Ask For - And That We Deserve","slug":"we-get-the-leaders-we-ask-for-and-that-we-deserve","old_id":"57687","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36277,"post_title":"Yedidya Sinclair","slug":"yedidya-sinclair","old_id":"36277","first_name":"Yedidya","last_name":"Sinclair","description":"Rabbi Yedidya Sinclair serves as Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hazon, the leading US Jewish environmental organization. From 2011-16 he was Vice President for Research and Senior Economist at Energiya Global, a Jerusalem-based solar energy company focused on the developing world and he continues to consult on renewable energy and climate change preparedness. In 2014 he published together with Hazon, a translation of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook's great work on shmitta, the Sabbatical year, \"Introduction to Shabbat Ha'aretz.\" Yedidya holds a BA from Oxford University, an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and lives with his family in Jerusalem.","short_description":"Yedidya Sinclair is a Jerusalem-based rabbi and economist, and is Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hazon. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36278,"alt":"","title":"yedidya sinclair","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","width":200,"height":200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":200,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","large-width":200,"large-height":200,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","post_full_size-width":200,"post_full_size-height":200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","home_baner-width":200,"home_baner-height":200}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Who would not want the righteous rule exemplified by Samuel to continue? The people.","post_main_content_content":"

The valedictory address that Samuel gives at Gilgal on Saul\u2019s public appointment as king is pathos-filled and painful to read. On first reading, it can sound a little like the concession speech of a political candidate on election night which is so noble, magnanimous and dignified that you realize he or she was far worthier to fill the office in question than the actual winner.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Except, that is not the right analogy. For this is not the concession speech of a candidate but of a political system. Samuel is acknowledging that the era of the Judges has come to an end. However selfless, devoted and principled he and some of his better predecessors had been in serving Israel, it has not been enough.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWhose ox have I taken, or whose ass have I taken? Whom have I defrauded or whom have I robbed?\u201d (v3) Samuel demands, echoing Moshe\u2019s avowal of his own complete integrity in the face of Korach\u2019s rebellion (Num. 16:15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi amplifies the prophet\u2019s question, describing how he rode his own donkey around the country when he went to judge the people rather than accepting favors, and even offered his own animals as sacrifices for others\u2019 atonement. \u00a0Samuel is a pure public servant, untainted by corruption and wholeheartedly dedicated to God and the people. His modest life-style, selflessness and dedication contrast embarrassingly with the habitual extravagance and rapacity of kings as described in chapter 8. Who would not want the righteous rule exemplified by Samuel to continue?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the people have decided. They want a king and their will is to be done. While God at first deplored the people\u2019s preference and saw it as a betrayal of divine leadership (I Samuel 8), once the decision is made, Providence gets behind it. The serendipitous meeting of Saul and Samuel in chapter 10 brought God\u2019s chosen candidate for the kingship to public notice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cGod leads us in the path we wish to go,\u201d says the Talmud (Makkot 10b.). This is a more religious way of saying in a political context, \u201cwe get the leaders we deserve.\u201d God may disapprove, yet gives us the freedom to choose leaders and even systems that are not the best ones for achieving justice, fear of God and integrity in public life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But as Samuel concludes his speech, \u201cFor the sake of His great name, the LORD will never abandon His people, seeing that the LORD undertook to make you His people\u201d (v.22). The prophet promises that God will remain with the Jewish people and its leaders, rebuking them, guiding them and teaching them through hard experience so that ultimately they may \u201crevere the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart\u201d (v.23).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57688,"alt":"","title":"isam12-accept reject","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-accept-reject-840x420.png","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"We Get The Leaders We Ask For - And That We Deserve","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Who would not want the righteous rule exemplified by Samuel to continue? 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He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A later hand tells the tale","post_main_content_content":"

And they cried out to the Lord and said, \u2018We have offended, for we have abandoned the Lord and served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth. And now, rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and we shall serve you\u201d. (12:10)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Samuel\u2019s speech seems to be an intertwining of an early story with a Deuteronomistic (seventh century or sixth century) editorial recasting. The vehement opposition to the monarchy would be original, perhaps even going back to the historical figure of Samuel. The Deuteronomistic school on its part was by no means antimonarchic, though it wanted to limit the monarch with rules of the Book of God\u2019s Teaching (the Torah). On the other hand, the sin of idolatry is not an issue in the Samuel story, but it is a Deuteronomistic preoccupation. It is at this point in the speech that we encounter clusters of Deuteronomistic verbal formulas: \u201cabandoned the Lord and served the Baalim,\u201d \u201cdelivered [literally, sold] into the hand of,\u201d \u201cfear the Lord and serve Him and heed His voice,\u201d \u201cserve Him truly with all your heart.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, <\/span>The Hebrew Bible<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. With the permission of the author <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"Some Foreign Ideas From Deuteronomy","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A later hand tells the tale","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"622","name":"Criticism","old_id":"1022"}]},{"order":10,"id":"57675","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Who Is Bedan!? ","post_title":"Who Is Bedan!?","slug":"who-is-bedan","old_id":"57675","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56490,"post_title":"Gary Rendsburg","slug":"gary-rendsburg","old_id":"56490","first_name":"Gary ","last_name":"Rendsburg ","description":"Gary Rendsburg serves as the Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. His teaching and research focus on \u2018all things ancient Israel\u2019 \u2013 primarily language and literature, though also history and archaeology. His secondary interests include post-biblical Judaism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the medieval Hebrew manuscript tradition. Rendsburg\u2019s most recent book is How the Bible Is Written (Hendrickson, 2019), with particular attention to the use of language to create literature.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Gary Rendsburg serves as the Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":56491,"alt":"","title":"Gary_A_Rendsburg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg.jpg","width":220,"height":314,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg-210x300.jpg","medium-width":210,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg.jpg","medium_large-width":220,"medium_large-height":314,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg.jpg","large-width":220,"large-height":314,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg.jpg","1536x1536-width":220,"1536x1536-height":314,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg.jpg","2048x2048-width":220,"2048x2048-height":314,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg.jpg","post_full_size-width":220,"post_full_size-height":314,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Gary_A_Rendsburg.jpg","home_baner-width":220,"home_baner-height":314}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Samuel gives us a glimpse of a different historical narrative","post_main_content_content":"

The Bible presents us with what we may call the \u2018canonical\u2019 narrative of Israel\u2019s history. \u00a0Every now and then, however, we gain a glimpse of a slightly different story. A prime instance is Samuel\u2019s speech in 12:6-17, which includes some surprising departures from the standard account.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

First, v. 8, \u201cThe Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and they brought your fathers out of Egypt, and they settled them in this place.\u201d Really? \u00a0According to the Torah, Moses and Aaron died before the children of Israel entered the Promised Land. Yet Samuel implies that Moses and Aaron brought the Israelites into the land of Canaan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Next, v. 9 states, \u201cAnd they forgot the Lord their God, and he delivered them into the hand of Sisera, the general of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.\u201d True, all three of these events are described in the book of Judges, but in the canonical version, the order of Israel\u2019s opponents is: \u00a0a) Eglon, king of Moab (ch. 3); b) Sisera (chs. 4-5); and c) Philistines (chs. 13-16). Here in the book of Samuel they are reordered into b), c), and a).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Then v. 11 reads as follows: \u201cAnd the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Bedan, and Jephthah and Samuel; and He saved you from the hand of your enemies all about.\u201d Jerubbaal (= Gideon) and Jephthah did save the Israelites in the book of Judges, but the other two names in the list are puzzling. First, Bedan is known from no other source, though there is mention of someone (the same person?) by this name in 1 Chr 7:17. \u00a0Presumably stories about Bedan circulated in ancient Israel, but for whatever reason he was excluded from the canonical version in Judges. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Secondly, the inclusion of Samuel in this list raises an eyebrow for two reasons: \u00a0a) never in the book of Samuel is the eponymous character seen saving the day from the hands of enemies along the likes of Gideon, Jephthah, et al.; and b) why would Samuel refer to himself in such fashion, not necessarily due to the first point noted (though that too), but rather because characters in the Bible never refer to themselves in such boastful manner. To the contrary, primacy is placed on humility. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Finally, v. 12 states, \u201cAnd you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came upon you, and you said to me, \u2018No, but a king will reign over us\u2019.\u201d \u00a0But in the book of Samuel, the people approach Samuel for a king in ch. 8, and the attack by Nahash occurs in ch. 11. Once again, a different chronology is present.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

All of this reminds us that frequently different versions of national narratives circulate, until one of them (usually) becomes the standard one, told and retold by later generations.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57680,"alt":"","title":"isam12-arrows","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows.jpg","width":1920,"height":1255,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-300x196.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-768x502.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":502,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-1024x669.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":669,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1004,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1255,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-1200x784.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":784,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-643x420.jpg","home_baner-width":643,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Who Is Bedan!?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Samuel gives us a glimpse of a different historical narrative","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":57680,"alt":"","title":"isam12-arrows","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows.jpg","width":1920,"height":1255,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-300x196.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-768x502.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":502,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-1024x669.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":669,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1004,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1255,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-1200x784.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":784,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-arrows-643x420.jpg","home_baner-width":643,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"622","name":"Criticism","old_id":"1022"},{"term_id":"839","name":"Samuel","old_id":"1239"},{"term_id":"890","name":"Narrative","old_id":"1290"}]},{"order":11,"id":"111401","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-ISam12 ","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-ISam12","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-isam12","old_id":"111401","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. 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He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Judges and officers must be above any suspicion of mismanagement","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter preserves Samuel\u2019s \u201cswan song\u201d, spoken to the people of Israel, though Samuel\u2019s death is reported only 13 chapters later (I Samuel 25:1). In the course of this farewell address, Samuel asserts his innocence of any financial mismanagement during the time he led Israel: \u201cWhose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you. They said, \u2018You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man\u2019s hand\u2019\u201d (I Samuel 12:3-4). \u00a0Here Samuel seems to be elaborating on Moses\u2019 earlier assertion of innocence: \u201cI have not taken so much as a donkey\u201d (Numbers 16:15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Midrash (Tanhuma Shoftim 3) emphasizes that \u201cjudges and officers\u201d (shoftim ve-shotrim, Deuteronomy 16:18) must be \u201cmen of distinction\u201d (anshey hayil) such as Moses chose to be leaders of the people Israel (Exodus 18:25). This means that Jewish leaders must be distinguished by their Torah learning, their good deeds and their greatness. And most important, they must be free of any judgement against them, so that no one can have any reason to criticize them. Such \u201cjudges and officers\u201d should have no stain, whatsoever, on their character. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

To illustrate this basic principle of good government, the Midrash brings a story about Rabbi Haninah ben Elazar who had a tree planted in his field, and its boughs bent over onto the property of his neighbor. A man came to him and complained to him, saying: \u201cSo and so has a tree and its boughs are hanging over my field (apparently causing damage by the shadow they were casting on the crops below)\u201d. Rabbi Haninah said to him: Go away and come back tomorrow. The man said to him: All the cases which are presented before you, you judge immediately. So why is my case delayed?! What did Rabbi Haninah do? He immediately sent workers to cut back the tree in his own field, whose boughs were hanging over his fellow\u2019s field. The next day that same man appeared before him for judgement. Rabbi Haninah said to the litigant that the offending tree should be cut down. The litigant replied to Rabbi Haninah: But why then are the branches of your own tree hanging over the field of your neighbor?! Rabbi Haninah said to him: Go and see! Whatever you see of mine, so you should do with yours. Immediately the man did just that. Rabbi Haninah\u2019s behavior is an illustration of the basic principle of good government that \u201cjudges and officers\u201d should be selected only from those who have no stain, whatsoever, on their character.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57683,"alt":"","title":"isam12-integrity","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","width":285,"height":177,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","medium-width":285,"medium-height":177,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","medium_large-width":285,"medium_large-height":177,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","large-width":285,"large-height":177,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","1536x1536-width":285,"1536x1536-height":177,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","2048x2048-width":285,"2048x2048-height":177,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","post_full_size-width":285,"post_full_size-height":177,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","home_baner-width":285,"home_baner-height":177}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Samuel: Personal Example Of An Honest Leader","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Judges and officers must be above any suspicion of mismanagement","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":57683,"alt":"","title":"isam12-integrity","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","width":285,"height":177,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","medium-width":285,"medium-height":177,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","medium_large-width":285,"medium_large-height":177,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","large-width":285,"large-height":177,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","1536x1536-width":285,"1536x1536-height":177,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","2048x2048-width":285,"2048x2048-height":177,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","post_full_size-width":285,"post_full_size-height":177,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-integrity.jpg","home_baner-width":285,"home_baner-height":177}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"528","name":"Honesty","old_id":"928"},{"term_id":"839","name":"Samuel","old_id":"1239"}]},{"order":13,"id":"57669","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Don\u2019t Rain on My Harvest ","post_title":"Don\u2019t Rain On My Harvest","slug":"dont-rain-on-my-harvest","old_id":"57669","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"All seven species and thus the whole economy would have been adversely affected\u2026","post_main_content_content":"

In his attempt to consolidate Saul\u2019s rule, Samuel reiterated the principle that the fate of Israel is inextricably tied to the sincerity of their worship of God (see our comments on Judges 2) and offered them a truly convincing sign (\u201cthis great thing,\u201d 16) of its veracity:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call unto the Lord that He may send thunder and rain, and you shall know and see that you have done a great wickedness in the sight of the Lord by asking for a king. (17)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The fact that he succeeded and \u201call the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel\u201d (18) only intensifies our perplexity: What is so impressive about rain? Radak, although he lived in Provence, appreciated the proof:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

My father, z\u201dl, explained that in the Land of Israel rain does not fall at all during the harvest\u2026 Our sages have said that the 17<\/span>th<\/span> of <\/span>Marheshvan<\/span><\/i> [in the fall] starts the rainy season. Since rain during the harvest season was a great novelty for them, they took fear and asked Samuel to pray for them lest they die.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to Nogah Hareuveni, a leading scholar in the field of botany and the Bible, the period of <\/span>sefirat ha\u2019omer<\/span><\/em> is intended to coincide with the wheat harvest in April and early May. This brief transitional season between the rainy winter and the hot, dry summer is one of erratic and unpredictable weather; one day can bring scorching winds from the desert, the next day, thunder, lightning, and heavy rains. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

During this spring season, seven critically important varieties of grain and fruit (Israel's \u201cseven species\u201d) are all particularly at vulnerable stages of development. The olive, grape, pomegranate and date flowers need several successive days of hot weather to open and be pollinated. Wheat and barley, on the other hand, need cool, moist air. The fiery <\/span>hamsin<\/span><\/em> typical of this season can parch and completely destroy the entire grain crop if it comes before the kernels have filled with starch. The same rains that benefit the wheat and barley during their last stages of ripening can devastate the fruit crop. In order to survive, people needed both the grain and the fruit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Not surprising, then, that this period would be one of high anxiety and trepidation and suitable for Samuel\u2019s object lesson.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57670,"alt":"","title":"isam12-species","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","width":1024,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":1024,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Don\u2019t Rain On My Harvest","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"All seven species and thus the whole economy would have been adversely affected\u2026","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":57670,"alt":"","title":"isam12-species","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","width":1024,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":1024,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam12-species-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"360","name":"Nature\/Environment","old_id":"760"},{"term_id":"780","name":"Rain","old_id":"1180"},{"term_id":"839","name":"Samuel","old_id":"1239"}]},{"order":14,"id":"57690","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"True Leadership ","post_title":"True Leadership","slug":"true-leadership","old_id":"57690","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":57495,"post_title":"Sarah Weissman","slug":"sarah-weissman","old_id":"57495","first_name":"Sarah ","last_name":"Weissman ","description":"Rabbi Sarah Weissman is an associate rabbi Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos, CA. In addition to her pastoral and pulpit duties, Rabbi Sarah oversees the adult education program, and teaches a popular Talmud class and the Adult B'nai Mitzvah class. She also serves as the staff person on the Interfaith Outreach Committee. Rabbi Sarah was ordained at the New York campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. ","short_description":"Rabbi Sarah Weissman is an associate rabbi Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos, CA.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":57496,"alt":"","title":"Sarah weissman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman.jpg","width":225,"height":219,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":219,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman.jpg","medium_large-width":225,"medium_large-height":219,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman.jpg","large-width":225,"large-height":219,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman.jpg","1536x1536-width":225,"1536x1536-height":219,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman.jpg","2048x2048-width":225,"2048x2048-height":219,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman.jpg","post_full_size-width":225,"post_full_size-height":219,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Sarah-weissman.jpg","home_baner-width":225,"home_baner-height":219}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"244","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"He remains devoted to the well-being of his people even though they don\u2019t appreciate him","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter begins with the aging Samuel\u2019s farewell to the Israelites as he completes his term of leadership. He says, \u201cI have yielded to you in all you have asked of me and have set a king over you. Henceforth the king will be your leader\u201d (1-2). His tone is defensive as he recounts his own leadership and the history of the people\u2019s lack of gratitude for all he has done for them. \u201cAs for me, I have grown old and gray\u2014but my sons are still with you\u2014and I have been your leader from my youth to this day. Here I am! Testify against me, in the presence of the Eternal and in the presence of God\u2019s anointed one: Whose ox have I taken, or whose ass have I taken? Whom have I defrauded or whom have I robbed? From whom have I taken a bribe to look the other way? I will return it to you\u201d (2-3). \u00a0In other words, \u201cHaven\u2019t I been a good and honest leader? Why are you rejecting me?!\u201d Once the Israelites respond by admitting that Samuel has done no wrong, Samuel goes on to remind them of all the kindnesses God has performed for them, and how they have spurned not only him, but God, by demanding a human king.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Samuel could have stopped there. \u00a0He could have rebuked the people and then washed his hands of them. But instead, he continues to lead, even though they have rejected his leadership. He exhorts them one more time, saying, \u201cIf you will revere the Eternal, worship and obey God, and will not flout the Eternal\u2019s command, if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Eternal your God, [well and good]. But if you do not obey the Eternal and you flout the Eternal\u2019s command, the hand of the Eternal will strike you as it did your fathers\u201d (14-15). And just to drive the point home, Samuel then prays to God for a miracle \u2013 a thunderstorm during the dry season \u2013 to prove to the people that what he says is true, that God is more powerful than any human king, and that the people have transgressed in asking for a king. The people are frightened by the miracle and beg Samuel to intercede and ask God to pardon them. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

And then, Samuel shows his true leadership. He says, \u201cAs for me, far be it from me to sin against the Eternal and refrain from praying for you; and I will continue to instruct you in the practice of what is good and right\u201d (23). Here Samuel demonstrates to the Israelites what true leadership is. He remains devoted to the well-being of his people even though they don\u2019t appreciate him. And he never gives up hope that the people will choose the right path, the path of goodness and 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    \r\n\t
  1. Similar, and not by accident<\/span><\/i>. Samuel\u2019s declaration of purity of action is reminiscent of a similar speech of Moses, in Numbers 16, in response to the rebellion of Korah: \"I have not taken the ass of any one of them, nor have I wronged any one of them.\u201d This invites a comparison between the two leaders and the challenges with which they grappled.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Who took what? Samuel\u2019s certificate of integrity, that he took nothing from the people, stands in stark contrast to the description of the king, which describes how he will do nothing but take and take from the nation. The root l-k-ch, \u201ctake,\u201d is repeated four times regarding the king in chapter 8, and four times in two verses here in our chapter.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Samuel is on the list. Samuel appears on the list of judges in ver 11, with Jerubaal, otherwise known as Gideon, Jephthah and another unidentified one named Bedan. Is that short for Avdon? Perhaps a nickname for Samson who is <\/span>ben Dan<\/span><\/i>, a son of the tribe of Dan. The commentators duke it out on that one<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. A sign and a punishment.<\/i> Rain during the harvest is not just a portent - it is a natural disaster.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"I Samuel 12","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"244","date":"20260805","wall_id":"244"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/57502"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}