{"id":57505,"date":"2018-07-09T17:43:24","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-246\/"},"modified":"2023-01-15T09:00:33","modified_gmt":"2023-01-15T07:00:33","slug":"wall-246","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-246\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-I Samuel-14"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"246","date":"20260809","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","books_group":"Prophets","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":"","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"57780","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"I Samuel Chapter 14 - Read by Michael Bernstein ","post_title":"I Samuel Chapter 14 - Read by Michael Bernstein","slug":"i-samuel-chapter-14-read-by-michael-bernstein","old_id":"57780","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":"246","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 14","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_14_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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"111585","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Saul Listens To The Popular Will - Twice ","post_title":"Saul Listens To The Popular Will - Twice","slug":"saul-listens-to-the-popular-will-twice","old_id":"111585","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"246","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But you have to know when to hold them; know when to fold them\u2026\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 14:47-8 describes Saul\u2019s successes:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After Saul had secured his kingship over Israel, he waged war on every side against all his enemies: against the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the Philistines, and the king of Zobah; and wherever he turned he worsted [them]. He was triumphant, defeating the Amalekites and saving Israel from those who plundered it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was for this purpose - waging war and defending the people -\u00a0 that the people had requested a human king, despite Samuel\u2019s earlier protestations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Understanding what his mandate was, and perceiving that God was assisting him, Saul decreed that his soldiers not eat before the Philistines were defeated (14:24): \u201cCursed be the man who eats any food before night falls and I take revenge on my enemies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But a major ethical dilemma involving Jonathan, Saul\u2019s son, then occurs. While Jonathan cleverly defeated an entire Philistine garrison while terribly outnumbered, which in turn led to \u00a0 the ultimate defeat of the invaders, he was never aware that the king had prohibited eating until victory was assured. What should be done to a soldier who disobeyed orders, even if he is the king\u2019s son? Like Jephthah (Judges 11:35) before him, Saul understood that his child had to die. The commentator Ralbag states:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0\u2026it is appropriate for an individual to conduct his affairs with diligence (prohibiting his surrogates to eat) when he is aided by God (<\/span>14:23<\/span><\/i>) \u2026We find that God agreed with this oath, and therefore, God did not answer Saul (ibid. 41-2) when Jonathan violated the oath\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was the intercession of the people, rather than God, who saved Jonathan from being put to death (verse 45):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the troops said to Saul, \u201cShall Jonathan die, after bringing this great victory to Israel? Never! As the LORD lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground! For he brought this day to pass with the help of God.\u201d \u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Listening to the troops here may be to Saul\u2019s credit, but in the next chapter, Saul once again seems to listen to the people with regard to his attack on Amalek (15:9, 20-21):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But Saul and the troops spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the second-born,<\/span> the lambs, and all else that was of value\u2026<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Saul said to Samuel, \u201cBut I did obey the LORD! I performed the mission on which the LORD sent me: I captured King Agag of Amalek, and I proscribed Amalek, and the troops took from the spoil some sheep and oxen\u2014the best of what had been proscribed\u2014to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God and Samuel didn\u2019t agree with the king. Apparently, you have to know when to \u201chold them\u201d and when to \u201cfold them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":111587,"alt":"","title":"-63c2f2343b5ab--63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker king.png","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png.png","width":914,"height":963,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png-285x300.png","medium-width":285,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png-768x809.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":809,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png.png","large-width":914,"large-height":963,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png.png","1536x1536-width":914,"1536x1536-height":963,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png.png","2048x2048-width":914,"2048x2048-height":963,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png.png","post_full_size-width":914,"post_full_size-height":963,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/01\/63c2f2343b5ab-63c2f2343b5ac1Sam15-poker-king.png-399x420.png","home_baner-width":399,"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":"Saul Listens To The Popular Will - Twice","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"But you have to know when to hold them; 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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":"246","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"His end, and his son Jonathan\u2019s are no less tragic\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This very long chapter details the attack against the Philistines. Once again the text references the book of Judges. Here, the three references are to Jephthah, Samson, and Gideon. In Judges, Samson traveled to Philistine to meet the parents of his new bride. Along the way he encounters and kills a lion. When he returns, the lion has a full beehive growing inside. Hungry from his trip, Samson grabs some honey and eats it. He then uses the honey in the lion to create a parable to try to trick the Philistines. In the end, they coerce his bride to reveal the answer to the riddle. In revenge, Samson lets loose 250 foxes with their tails tied to torches.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The second story is Jephthah\u2019s pronouncement that if he is victorious in battle, he will sacrifice the first thing that walks through his door. When he returns from battle, his daughter is the first thing to walk to greet him. The text is ambiguous, but there is a possibility that he sacrifices his daughter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In chapter 14, Jonathan, Saul\u2019s son, sets out on a \u2018black ops' mission to Philistine camp with his arms bearer. They startle the Philistine camp and kill a group of soldiers. The attack leads to confusion in the Philistine camp. As in the story of Gideon, the Philistines attack each other in the confusion. Saul rallies the Israelite army and declares that no one eat any food until the battle is over. This somewhat crazy order mirror\u2019s Jephthah\u2019s unnecessary vow. Meanwhile, Jonathan does not know about the restriction, and on the way back to the camp, he eats some honey- like Samson. The vow broken, Saul seeks guidance from lots as to who disobeyed. He doubles down on the threat by declaring that even his son would not be immune. When the lots fall on Jonathan, Saul pledges to follow through with the threat. The people rally to save Jonathan who was responsible for their great victory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The ending is a little bit sweeter than the Jephthah and Samson stories, for now. But why is the text again looking to the book of Judges for symbolic messages? Jephthah was a great warrior and leader of the people until he ended his reign as a judge making a tragic error in judgment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Saul follows the same path. He began his career as the reluctant leader who scored great victories against the nation\u2019s foes. His reign ends tragically, though, with one misguided decision after another. Jonathan, on the other hand, is compared to two other leaders, but for different reasons. Jonathan\u2019s references will foreshadow his own tragic end. Like Gideon, Jonathan was a great warrior, who very likely would have been a great king. But Jonathan turns down that opportunity in favor of David, just like Gideon turns down the kingship. Jonathan ends up dying in battle with the enemy.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":59492,"alt":"","title":"isam31-The_Death_of_Saul","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","width":479,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","medium_large-width":479,"medium_large-height":600,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","large-width":479,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","1536x1536-width":479,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","2048x2048-width":479,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","post_full_size-width":479,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul-335x420.jpg","home_baner-width":335,"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":"Saul And The Judges","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"His end, and his son Jonathan\u2019s are no less tragic","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":59492,"alt":"","title":"isam31-The_Death_of_Saul","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","width":479,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","medium_large-width":479,"medium_large-height":600,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","large-width":479,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","1536x1536-width":479,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","2048x2048-width":479,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul.jpg","post_full_size-width":479,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam31-The_Death_of_Saul-335x420.jpg","home_baner-width":335,"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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"383","name":"Death","old_id":"783"},{"term_id":"837","name":"Judges","old_id":"1237"},{"term_id":"885","name":"Saul","old_id":"1285"},{"term_id":"891","name":"Jonathan","old_id":"1291"}]},{"order":4,"id":"58030","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Saul's Sons And Daughters ","post_title":"Saul's Sons And Daughters","slug":"sauls-sons-and-daughters","old_id":"58030","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56634,"post_title":"Michal Nachmany","slug":"michal-nachmany","old_id":"56634","first_name":"Michal ","last_name":"Nachmany ","description":"Michal Nachmany (b. Jerusalem, 1958), is a self-taught artist and educator. She began exhibiting her work in September 2015 in New York City, and since then has exhibited at community centers and galleries across New York City and the Tristate area. She has held two international shows, in Taipei Taiwan and Krakow Poland. By collaborating with community centers to exhibit her work, and drawing upon her experience as both an artist and educator, her art acts as a bridge which connects past and present and viewers with one another.\r\nMichal dedicates her work in memory to her father Shamai Zweigreich z\u201dl and her grandfather Yisrael Zweigreich z\u201dl, who loved studying Bible and Talmud.","short_description":"Michal Nachmany is a self-taught artist and educator","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":56635,"alt":"","title":"michal nachmany picture","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture.jpg","width":157,"height":243,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture.jpg","medium-width":157,"medium-height":243,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture.jpg","medium_large-width":157,"medium_large-height":243,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture.jpg","large-width":157,"large-height":243,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture.jpg","1536x1536-width":157,"1536x1536-height":243,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture.jpg","2048x2048-width":157,"2048x2048-height":243,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture.jpg","post_full_size-width":157,"post_full_size-height":243,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/michal-nachmany-picture.jpg","home_baner-width":157,"home_baner-height":243}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"246","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Saul\u2019s sons were: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were Merab, the older, and Michal, the younger.","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":58031,"alt":"","title":"isam14","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14.jpg","width":863,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-253x300.jpg","medium-width":253,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-768x911.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":911,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-863x1024.jpg","large-width":863,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14.jpg","1536x1536-width":863,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14.jpg","2048x2048-width":863,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14.jpg","post_full_size-width":863,"post_full_size-height":1024,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-354x420.jpg","home_baner-width":354,"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 14: 49","tile_main_caption":"Saul's Sons And Daughters","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Saul\u2019s sons were: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were Merab, the older, and Michal, the younger","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":58031,"alt":"","title":"isam14","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14.jpg","width":863,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-253x300.jpg","medium-width":253,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-768x911.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":911,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-863x1024.jpg","large-width":863,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14.jpg","1536x1536-width":863,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14.jpg","2048x2048-width":863,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14.jpg","post_full_size-width":863,"post_full_size-height":1024,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-354x420.jpg","home_baner-width":354,"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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":5,"id":"57966","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Historical Veracity And Military Audacity ","post_title":"Historical Veracity And Military Audacity","slug":"historical-veracity-and-military-audacity","old_id":"57966","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34235,"post_title":"Marc Gitler","slug":"marc-gitler","old_id":"34235","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Gitler","description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, a recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and earned an MPA from NYU . The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. He used to work for 929 North America.\r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, founder of Fast for Feast, lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34236,"alt":"","title":"Marc Gitler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","width":407,"height":407,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","medium_large-width":407,"medium_large-height":407,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","large-width":407,"large-height":407,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","1536x1536-width":407,"1536x1536-height":407,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","2048x2048-width":407,"2048x2048-height":407,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","post_full_size-width":407,"post_full_size-height":407,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","home_baner-width":407,"home_baner-height":407}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"246","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Just ask Major Vivian Gilbert how Jonathan\u2019s commando tactics worked in 1918","post_main_content_content":"

In February of 1918, toward the tail end of World War I, British troops under the command of General Edmund Allenby were ordered to attack Jericho, to force the Ottomans to flee to the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River. For tactical reasons, prior to the major assault, the troops needed to capture a small village called Mukhmas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

An attack plan was drawn up calling for their brigade to advance down the valley before dawn and take the village from the front. \u00a0While most of the troops were trying to get a few hours of sleep, an unnamed brigade major was reading the Bible, \u201cby the light of his candle,\u201d because the name Mukhmas seemed vaguely familiar.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In his book \u201cThe Romance of the Last Crusade\u201d Major Vivian Gilbert writes \u201cJust as he was about to turn in for the night, however, he recollected, and thought he would look it up. He found what he was searching for in Samuel 1 chapters 13 and 14.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And Saul and Jonathan\u2026abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Mickmash\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He read of Jonathan and his arm-bearer climbing to the town over steep cliffs, through two sharp rocks named Bozez and Seneh. How Jonathan\u2019s surprise attack caused panic in the camp, and the Philistines scattering in all directions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gilbert continues \u201cThe Brigade Major thought to himself: \u2018This pass, these two rocky headlands and flat piece of ground are probably still here.\u201d He woke the Brigadier. Scouts were set out and reported back that the pass was thinly held by the Ottomans. \u201cThe general decided then and there to change the plan of attack, and instead of the whole brigade, one infantry company alone advanced at dead of night along the pass of Mickmash\u2026We passed between Bozez and Seneh, climbed the hillside, and just before dawn, found ourselves on the flat piece of ground. The Turks who were sleeping awoke, thought they were surrounded by the armies of Allenby and fled in disorder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He concludes his chapter \u201cWe killed or captured every Turk that night in Mickmash, so that, after thousands of years, the tactics of Saul and Jonathan were repeated with success by a British force.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes being a Bibliophile helps in more than just Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: British infantry on the march, Palestine (credit: Imperial War Museum)<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57967,"alt":"","title":"isam14-british-troops-palestine","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","width":800,"height":468,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine-300x176.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":176,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine-768x449.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":449,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":468,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":468,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":468,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":468,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine-718x420.jpg","home_baner-width":718,"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":"Historical Veracity And Military Audacity","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Just ask Major Vivian Gilbert how Jonathan\u2019s commando tactics worked in 1918","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":57967,"alt":"","title":"isam14-british-troops-palestine","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","width":800,"height":468,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine-300x176.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":176,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine-768x449.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":449,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":468,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":468,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":468,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":468,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-british-troops-palestine-718x420.jpg","home_baner-width":718,"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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"430","name":"Land of Israel","old_id":"830"},{"term_id":"434","name":"War","old_id":"834"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"}]},{"order":6,"id":"57784","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Biblical Snapshots: Saul Calls - 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But God Not Available For Comment","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with Adam Mintz (sponsored by George S. Blumenthal and filmed by Ardon Bar-Hama)","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YN8GBbvsRD0","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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":7,"id":"57975","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Saul Repeats, And Repairs History ","post_title":"Saul Repeats, And Repairs History","slug":"saul-repeats-and-repairs-history","old_id":"57975","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":"246","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And in the process, helps to forge a people who will survive him","post_main_content_content":"

Saul\u2019s first campaign, his war against Ammon, borrowed and rearranged elements from the civil war that ended the book of Judges. Saul\u2019s next campaign, here in chapter 14, borrows and rearranges elements from another story in Judges \u2013 the story of Jephthah. Like Jephthah (who, incidentally, gained his position of leadership by defeating the Ammonites, like Saul after him), Saul made a vow that doomed his own child to die.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each of these variations alludes to prior events but removes their tragic sting. Saul\u2019s campaign against the Ammonites resembles the Israelite campaign against his own tribe in Judges 20-21, but forges a wholly different kind of unity. In Judges, the people united around torn human flesh; Saul rallies them around torn oxen. In Judges, they cemented their unity by vowing to kill whoever wouldn\u2019t join them; Saul cements the people\u2019s unity by vowing to destroy the property of those who wouldn\u2019t join them \u2013 not their lives. Most importantly, in Judges the Israelites united to kill some of their own; Saul, by contrast, united the people to save an Israelite city --- the very city that the Israelites destroyed due to their vow in Judges. Similarly, when Saul prepares to execute his son the people intervene and break the pattern. They declare that \u201cnot a hair of his head shall fall to the ground!\" (14:45), and stop Saul from following in Jephthah\u2019s footsteps.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While both variations alter the previous stories in ways that allow a happy ending, Saul plays profoundly different roles in each reprise. In chapter 11, he is the man who breaks the older, tragic pattern. In chapter 14 Saul becomes part of the problematic pattern, and it falls to the <\/span>'am<\/span><\/i> \u2013 the nation \u2013 to make the crucial change instead.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The difference between Saul\u2019s roles in these variations illuminates both his decline \u2013 and his success. The man who started his reign by showing initiative and leadership can no longer think outside the box. He will assume an increasingly reactive role in coming chapters, leaving the stage clear for the boldness of a young shepherd with a sling and five smooth stones. But at the same time, the mere fact that the people act as one to save Jonathan demonstrates Saul\u2019s lasting success. The unity he forged against Ammon survived beyond that one first battle. It allowed the people to act as an <\/span>'am<\/span><\/i>, a nation. It created an entity that can survive his own decline.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0\u00a0Painting Of The King Saul,\u00a0Dr. Lidia Kozenitzky, 2009 \/ wikimedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57976,"alt":"","title":"isam14-saul-horses","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","width":706,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses-212x300.jpg","medium-width":212,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","medium_large-width":706,"medium_large-height":1000,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","large-width":706,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","1536x1536-width":706,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","2048x2048-width":706,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","post_full_size-width":706,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses-297x420.jpg","home_baner-width":297,"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":"Saul Repeats, And Repairs History","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And in the process, helps to forge a people who will survive him","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":57976,"alt":"","title":"isam14-saul-horses","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","width":706,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses-212x300.jpg","medium-width":212,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","medium_large-width":706,"medium_large-height":1000,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","large-width":706,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","1536x1536-width":706,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","2048x2048-width":706,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses.jpg","post_full_size-width":706,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam14-saul-horses-297x420.jpg","home_baner-width":297,"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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"594","name":"Unity","old_id":"994"},{"term_id":"837","name":"Judges","old_id":"1237"},{"term_id":"865","name":"Jephthah","old_id":"1265"},{"term_id":"885","name":"Saul","old_id":"1285"}]},{"order":8,"id":"57787","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Commander or Commando? ","post_title":"Commander Or Commando?","slug":"commander-or-commando","old_id":"57787","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. 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":"246","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Jonathan\u2019s daring contrasts with Saul\u2019s caution","post_main_content_content":"

And when the day came round, Jonathan son of Saul said to the lad bearing his armor, \u201cCome, let us cross over to the Philistine garrison which is on the other side there,\u201d but his father he did not tell. (14:1)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Commentary: <\/span>but his father he did not tell<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

One assumes that his father would have forbidden him to go out on so dangerous a mission, but there is also an implicit contrast between Saul, sitting under the pomegranate tree, hesitant to act in the face of the superior forces of the enemy, and Jonathan, prepared to execute a daring commando raid.<\/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. By 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":"Commander Or Commando?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Jonathan\u2019s daring contrasts with Saul\u2019s caution","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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"57969","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Israel v. Philistines, Again \u00a0 ","post_title":"Israel v. Philistines, Again \u00a0","slug":"israel-v-philistines-again","old_id":"57969","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":"246","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Confused language communicates a reality full of confusion","post_main_content_content":"

Historians and archaeologists agree that the Israelites and the Philistines arrived in the land of Canaan at approximately the same time, the 12th century B.C.E. The Israelites came from the desert regions to the south, stretching across the Sinai, southern Israel, and southern Jordan, with the Exodus and Wilderness narratives of the Torah constituting <\/span>la m\u00e9moire collective<\/em> <\/span>thereof. The Philistines, meanwhile, were part of the Sea Peoples movement, which brought various Aegean and Mediterranean populations to the coast of Canaan. For biblical echoes, see Deut 2:23, Jer 47:4, Amos 9:7.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Israelites settled in the central hill country, where most of the biblical narrative of Judges-Samuel transpires. Note the mention of such cities as Shechem, Shiloh, Bethel, Ramah, Gibeah, Bethlehem, Mizpah, Beth-Shemesh, Kiryat-Jearim, Timnah, Adullam, etc. \u00a0The Philistines settled in the southern coastal plain, especially in the five cities which formed the Pentapolis: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As long as these two peoples remained in their respective territories, all was fine. \u00a0But within a century or so, both populations began to expand, the Israelites slightly westward and the Philistines slightly eastward, so that the two groups met in the foothills region. Thus we begin to see a series of battles between the Israelites and the Philistines, beginning in chapters 4-6 and here again in chapter 14 (with more engagements still to come).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this case, the Israelites are victorious, with Jonathan, the son of Saul, playing a key role. \u00a0Within the account of the Israelite victory, the narrator mentions the <\/span>mehuma gedola me\u02beod<\/span><\/em> \u2018very great confusion\u2019 in the Philistine camp (v. 20), as often happens in the course of battle (and as directors and cinematographers often attempt to capture in film). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The text continues: \u201cAnd the Hebrews were to the Philistines as before, that had gone up with them into the camp all around; and even they to be with Israel that were with Saul and Jonathan\u201d (v. 21). I have translated the passage as it reads, without any attempt at smoothing over the difficulties. The latter is what typically occurs in English translations, for example, in the J.P.S. <\/span>Tanakh <\/span><\/i>version, \u201cAnd the Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines, who had come up with them in the army from round about \u2013 they too joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.\u201d Now something like this is presumably what happened in the battle, but the biblical writer did not describe the events in such smooth terms. Instead, to evoke the confusion in the Philistine camp, he produced language which by its very confusion describes the battlefield.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Readers expect the text that they are reading to read smoothly, with coherent grammar. \u00a0And such occurs the vast majority of the time. 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There are so many items of interest in this chapter that it was quite a challenge to single out only one for comment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Just a glimpse of the proverbial road not taken would include, first of all, the array of delightful place names such as Migron (2), Botzetz & Seneh (4), and Michmash (5). The chapter also encompasses the episode of Jonathan and his armor bearer\u2019s commando raid against the Philistines (6 ff.) and how they successfully employed an early form of psy-ops (9 ff.). Same for their unwitting disobedience to Saul\u2019s counterproductive order to abstain from all food (24), his subsequent rash vow to punish any violator \u201ceven my son Jonathan\u201d (39, highly reminiscent of Jephthah\u2019s rash vow in Judges 11), and how their lives were spared by popular acclaim (45).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What I have chosen to focus on is verse 47:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Saul consolidated the monarchy over Israel and fought against all his enemies on all sides: Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of [Aram] Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, <\/span>yarshi`a<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I have deliberately left the last word untranslated because that is the crux of the matter. While a host of medieval exegetes and English translations have labored mightily to turn it to Saul\u2019s advantage (e.g., King James: \u201che vexed them,\u201d English Standard: \u201che routed them,\u201d JPS: \u201che put them to the worse\u201d), the undeniable fact is that the Hebrew literally means \u201che [Saul] was wicked.\u201d While \u201cwicked\u201d (from the Old English wicca, meaning wizard) has the slang meaning of excellent, the Hebrew <\/span>rasha<\/span><\/em>`<\/em> does not.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The sole exception to this history of interpretation (and not for the only time) was Malbim (1809-1879), who manipulated grammar to his advantage. He substituted the object of the sentence for its subject and attached it to the following verse, yielding (in paraphrase): Saul fought against all these enemies. Indeed, in whatever direction a wicked one (i.e. an external enemy) confronted him, he acted 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\u201cAmulets and Omens: The Intersection of Mysticism and Superstition in Judaism\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Rabbi Shlomo Agishtein: Where do our religious practices come from?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cMichal - a princess; a daughter; a wife; alone\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Michal Kohane: Explore sources about this Biblical woman. <\/span><\/p>","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":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Sefaria Source Sheets - I Samuel 14","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Click to get links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":14,"id":"57781","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- I Samuel 14 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- I Samuel 14","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-i-samuel-14","old_id":"57781","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. 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    \r\n\t
  1. Communication problems<\/span><\/i>. In the Israelite camp, Saul has some special media at his disposal: priest, Ark, and the \u201cthummim\u201d (priestly oracle). But this doesn\u2019t solve all his problems. In verse 19, Saul begins the divination process, but the mayhem overpowers him and he says to the priest \u201cWithdraw your hand!,\u201d and hurries off to war. In verse 37, Saul\u2019s inquiry of the thummim is left without an answer. <\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Saul v. Jonathan<\/span><\/i>. Saul, who was worried about the army scattering in the last chapter, contrasts with the valiant Jonathan who knows that \u201cnothing prevents the LORD from winning a victory by many or by few\u201d (verse 6). Saul, who takes an oath that weakens his army, as opposed to Jonathan, who breaks the oath, thereby becoming stronger, leading to the salvation of the army and the people. Jonathan asks for a sign from God - and recieves one. Saul (as mentioned above) asks, and retracts his request, asks, and doesn\u2019t receive an answer. Saul, who tries to activate God, and Jonathan, who acts, and believes. <\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. The wisdom of the masses<\/span><\/i>. The response of the people to Saul\u2019s judgement of Jonathan directly expresses the deep appreciation that everyone feels for Jonathan: \u201cBut the troops said to Saul, \u2018Shall Jonathan die, after bringing this great victory to Israel? Never! As the LORD lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground! For he brought this day to pass with the help of God.\u2019 Thus the troops saved Jonathan and he did not die\u201d (verse 45).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. The kingdom comes together<\/span><\/i>. Interestingly, alongside the pink slip that Saul received from Samuel in the last chapter, the kingdom continues to solidify. And quite successfully too, at least from a security perspective. \u201cAfter Saul had secured his kingship over Israel, he waged war on every side against all his enemies\u2026 wherever he turned He was triumphant\u2026saving Israel from those who plundered it\u201d (verses 47-48). <\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Saul\u2019s extended family<\/span><\/i>. Meet them in verses 49-51. Note only one wife, all the daughters mentioned by name, and one pretty dominant uncle.<\/span><\/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 14","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":"14","chapter_main_number":"246","date":"20260809","wall_id":"246"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/57505"}],"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=57505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}