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David and Jonathan have had a very close relationship. From the moment Jonathan set eyes on David \u201cJonathan\u2019s soul became bound up with the soul of David; Jonathan loved David as himself.\u201d (I Samuel 18:1). Jonathan saved David\u2019s life multiple times, he snuck out in the middle of the night to visit David in his camp, and the two made a pact together that David would protect Jonathan\u2019s offspring. Jonathan knew his house was doomed, but he embraced the fact that David would be the one to carry on as king of Israel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the first chapter of II Samuel (really the continuation of the unified book of Samuel), David sings a dirge in honor of the slain Saul and Jonathan. Regarding Saul he laments: \u201cDaughters of Israel, Weep over Saul, Who clothed you in crimson and finery, Who decked your robes with jewels of gold\u201d (verse 25). And as to Jonathan: \u201cYour love was wonderful to me more than the love of women\u201d (verse 26).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Modern readings of the text suggest that David and Jonathan may have had a romantic relationship. That may be, but strong expressions of love between friends are also not out of the ordinary. Commentators also offer different explanations for David\u2019s choice of words here. Radak explains that the love of a woman refers to a love that is stronger than the love for the two women who were David\u2019s wives. David is referring to specific women. Radak has a second explanation that is more general. The love between the two was stronger than the love a mother has for her husband and children. In this second reading,\u00a0 the love is non-sexual in nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim takes the reference in context of the dirge itself. The love is more than the love of the women weeping for Saul in the previous verse. That weeping is for the king they never met, but who provided protection for them. The weeping of David for Jonathan is authentic and it is therefore stronger than the love expressed by the weeping women. Pirkei Avot also interprets the love as one of deep intimacy, but not of deep physical attraction per se:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

All love that depends on something, [when the] thing ceases, [the] love ceases; and [all love] that does not depend on anything, will never cease. What is an example of love that depended on something? Such was the love of Amnon for Tamar. And what is an example of love that did not depend on anything? Such was the love of David and Jonathan. (Pirkei Avot 5:16).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Amnon had a sexual obsession with Tamar that ends with him raping his sister. That love is an obsession based on nothing. The love of David and Jonathan was pure and absolute. Their love was the kind of deep love that was not based on anything physical, but a love that could and did endure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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","short_description":"Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky is the Director of Interdisciplinary Learning and Educational Outreach at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":56119,"alt":"","title":"tzvi_sinensky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","width":240,"height":280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":280,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","medium_large-width":240,"medium_large-height":280,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","large-width":240,"large-height":280,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","1536x1536-width":240,"1536x1536-height":280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","2048x2048-width":240,"2048x2048-height":280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","post_full_size-width":240,"post_full_size-height":280,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","home_baner-width":240,"home_baner-height":280}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"264","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Despite fundamental disagreements, inseparable in life and death","post_main_content_content":"

In David\u2019s stirring elegy for Saul and Jonathan, is one of the most haunting, yet ambiguous phrases concerns the eternal relationship between father and son. According to the traditional cantillation, David refers to \u201cSaul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished in life, never parted in death.\u201d Yet this reading of the phrase is strange. If father and son never parted in death, weren\u2019t they also united in life?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Accordingly, numerous contemporary scholars move the comma one word earlier, and read the verse as follows: \u201cSaul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished, never parted in life or in death.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet this too seems difficult. Were Saul and Jonathan not bitterly divided during their lifetimes in their treatment of David? Was David not Saul\u2019s sworn enemy, and Jonathan\u2019s beloved friend? Saul sought to kill David; Jonathan saved his life. How could David himself have been blind to the chasm dividing father and son? How dare he be disingenuous while delivering his poignant eulogy?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps motivated by this difficulty, some classical commentaries reinterpret this phrase. Targum Yonatan, as elaborated by R. David Kimhi, suggests that David means to say that their bond with God, not one another, was never broken. Metzudat David understands that they were beloved to the nation (again, not one another) not only in life, but also in death. Yet, as R. Kimhi acknowledges, this is not the only plausible interpretation. The simple understanding is that David and Jonathan were inseparable <\/span>from one another<\/span><\/i> in life and death.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Accordingly, we might suggest that David is telling the truth after all. Despite their fierce split in their attitudes toward David, Saul and Jonathan fundamentally enjoyed an extraordinary relationship. That is obscured throughout the narrative in I Samuel, which is focused on the transition of power from Saul to David, and Saul\u2019s intense, near-irrational hatred of David. Yet, apparently, despite the fierce differences in their respective attitudes toward David, David himself was able to see beyond these differences, and recognize the existential bond between father and son. The two were literally inseparable, living together and dying in the same battle on the same day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So often in our own lives, we have strong, even fierce disagreements with those closest to us. In capturing the remarkable model of Saul and Jonathan, David\u2019 eulogy reminds us that even when we disagree, we must remain equally committed to maintaining deep relationships with those closest to us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":59557,"alt":"","title":"2sam1-father-and-son","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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 Jonathan, The Love Of Father And Son","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Despite fundamental disagreements, inseparable in life and death","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":59557,"alt":"","title":"2sam1-father-and-son","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-father-and-son-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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":"II Samuel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"264","date":"20260902","wall_id":"264"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"381","name":"love","old_id":"781"},{"term_id":"383","name":"Death","old_id":"783"},{"term_id":"468","name":"Relationships","old_id":"868"},{"term_id":"834","name":"David","old_id":"1234"},{"term_id":"885","name":"Saul","old_id":"1285"},{"term_id":"891","name":"Jonathan","old_id":"1291"}]},{"order":6,"id":"61088","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The King is Dead. Long Live the King! ","post_title":"The King is Dead. Long Live the King!","slug":"the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king","old_id":"61088","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":60052,"post_title":"Alon Meltzer","slug":"alon-meltzer","old_id":"60052","first_name":"Alon ","last_name":"Meltzer ","description":"Rabbi Alon Meltzer is the Rabbi of Or Chadash and Director of Programs at Shalom in hte Sydney, Australia Jewish Community. Alon holds ordination from Yeshiva University\u2019s RIETS, a Masters in Medieval Jewish History from Bernard Revel Graduate School, and a Masters in Sociology from the University of Auckland. ","short_description":"Rabbi Alon Meltzer is the Rabbi of Or Chadash and Director of Programs at Shalom in hte Sydney, Australia Jewish Community. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":60053,"alt":"","title":"alon meltzer","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer.jpg","width":1383,"height":1583,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-262x300.jpg","medium-width":262,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-768x879.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":879,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-895x1024.jpg","large-width":895,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer.jpg","1536x1536-width":1342,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer.jpg","2048x2048-width":1383,"2048x2048-height":1583,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-1048x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1048,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-367x420.jpg","home_baner-width":367,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"264","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The beginning of the man who we will see laugh, dance, cry, mourn, and continuously sing\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The opening of the book of II Samuel repeats the news of King Saul and his son Jonathan\u2019s deaths, this time sharing directly with the future king of Israel, David. His response, recounted in verses 11 and 12, is to tear his clothes, and weep over both Saul and Jonathan. The Babylonian Talmud states that this verse tells us that we have a legal duty to tear our clothes as an outward display of mourning for each of the dead (Nedarim 87a)\u2013 in this case David made two tears. It is understandable that David would mourn over Jonathan, as the Ethics of our Father\u2019s tells us of the deep love between the two (5:16), but his enemy Saul?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim, a 19th century commentator, writes that David was following convention, the need to mourn for the leaders of the time. Saul is likened to the <\/span>Nasi<\/span><\/em>, the principal leader of the Jewish people, and Jonathan, the head of the court. In doing so, Malbim seems to remove the emotion from the response. In the immediacy of the chapter, this seems to work, immediately following the initial response, David kills the Amalekite messenger, another act of convention.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

David though, was never just a man of convention, he was also a man of deep emotions. He was a man of song, who graced the world with deep and emotive verses that pull at the heart strings continuously. And his dirge over Saul and Jonathan is no different. Commanding the daughters of Israel to weep over the father and son, ending with \u201cHow the mighty have fallen, the weapons of war perished\u201d (verse 27). We see the David of Psalms, rather than that of the battlefield. We see the man of emotions rather than that of convention. A loss of life, whether friend or foe, dramatically impacts David, it brings the human into the man who in just 4 short chapters will rise to become King. It is the beginning of the man who we will see laugh, dance, cry, mourn, and continuously sing. The king is dead. Long live the King!<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56404,"alt":"","title":"jud19-king","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","width":1920,"height":1313,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-300x205.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":205,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-768x525.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":525,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-1024x700.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1050,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1313,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-1200x821.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":821,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-614x420.jpg","home_baner-width":614,"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 King is Dead. Long Live the King!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The beginning of the man who we will see laugh, dance, cry, mourn, and continuously sing","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56404,"alt":"","title":"jud19-king","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","width":1920,"height":1313,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-300x205.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":205,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-768x525.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":525,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-1024x700.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1050,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1313,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-1200x821.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":821,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-614x420.jpg","home_baner-width":614,"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":"II Samuel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"264","date":"20260902","wall_id":"264"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"383","name":"Death","old_id":"783"},{"term_id":"484","name":"Mourning","old_id":"884"},{"term_id":"834","name":"David","old_id":"1234"},{"term_id":"835","name":"King","old_id":"1235"}]},{"order":7,"id":"59559","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"What Makes David \u201cTHE\u201d King Of Israel? ","post_title":"What Makes David \u201cTHE\u201d King Of Israel?","slug":"what-makes-david-the-king-of-israel","old_id":"59559","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42746,"post_title":"Michal Kohane","slug":"michal-kohane","old_id":"42746","first_name":"Michal ","last_name":"Kohane ","description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. She holds degrees in Israel studies , education and psychology, and has been a leader and educator in Northern California for over 25 years. Her first novel, Hachug (\"Extracurricular\") was published in Israel in 2016 and her weekly blog can be found at http:\/\/www.miko284.com\r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42747,"alt":"","title":"michal kohane","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","width":214,"height":226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium-width":214,"medium-height":226,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium_large-width":214,"medium_large-height":226,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","large-width":214,"large-height":226,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","1536x1536-width":214,"1536x1536-height":226,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","2048x2048-width":214,"2048x2048-height":226,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","post_full_size-width":214,"post_full_size-height":226,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","home_baner-width":214,"home_baner-height":226}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"264","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

David Melech Yisrael<\/em> \u2013 goes the famous song, and yet, one wonders: What makes King David \u201cThe\u201d king of Israel? We see him fight in brutal, ruthless wars; have questionable relationship with the women in his life; complicated encounters with his children; and ultimately, deemed unworthy to be the one building the Temple. We would think that this would not be our all-time hero.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is it about him that makes him such a royal leader?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One answer might be found in this opening chapter of Samuel II when David is met by the lad who killed Saul. The lad who rushes to bring the news, might be hypothesizing that David would be happy: Saul, his all-time enemy who sought David\u2019s death more than once and in more ways that could have been expected, who manipulated his relationship with the woman who loved him, is finally dead. David should be ecstatic. Instead, he asks the young Amalekite <\/span>ger<\/span><\/i> (possibly convert or resident of the Land) in deep shock and horror: \u201cHow did you dare\u2026 to lift your hand and kill the one anointed by God\u201d?? How dare you?! True, he might be my personal enemy, but he was chosen by God!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is when David sings his famous <\/span>kina <\/span><\/i>(lament-poem), and this is how he shows his regal abilities: Saul, the King of Israel is dead. No matter who he was, he deserves a proper farewell, nothing more perhaps is possible but definitely not anything less. The one who fights for the late king to have his proper respects paid, is no other than his lifelong enemy, who knows to rise above personal petty grievances and take the high road when needed. Yes, a king may be flawed and far from perfect, but he knows to put his own feelings second to his people\u2019s needs and well-being. It is possible that this is what made King David who he has been for our people since.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Statue of King David by Nicolas Cordier in the Borghese Chapel of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":59561,"alt":"","title":"2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","width":331,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore-166x300.jpg","medium-width":166,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","medium_large-width":331,"medium_large-height":600,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","large-width":331,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","1536x1536-width":331,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","2048x2048-width":331,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","post_full_size-width":331,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore-232x420.jpg","home_baner-width":232,"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":"What Makes David \u201cTHE\u201d King Of Israel?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"He knows to put his own feelings second to his people\u2019s needs and well-being","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":59561,"alt":"","title":"2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","width":331,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore-166x300.jpg","medium-width":166,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","medium_large-width":331,"medium_large-height":600,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","large-width":331,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","1536x1536-width":331,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","2048x2048-width":331,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore.jpg","post_full_size-width":331,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-David_SM_Maggiore-232x420.jpg","home_baner-width":232,"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":"II Samuel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"264","date":"20260902","wall_id":"264"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"834","name":"David","old_id":"1234"},{"term_id":"835","name":"King","old_id":"1235"}]},{"order":8,"id":"59583","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Daughters of Israel \u2013 Weep for Saul! ","post_title":"Daughters of Israel \u2013 Weep for Saul!","slug":"daughters-of-israel-weep-for-saul","old_id":"59583","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. 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":"264","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

In our Chapter, at the beginning of Second Samuel, after hearing of the death of Saul and his three sons , David intones a dirge for Saul and his son Jonathan, who was David\u2019s loyal friend (1:17-27).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Toward the end of this poetic lament, David calls out to \u201cthe Daughters of Israel: \u2018Weep over Saul, who clothed you in crimson and finery, who decked your robes with jewels of gold\u2019\u201d (1:24).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In elaborating on this verse, the Mishnah (Nedarim 9:10) relates a story about Rabbi Yishmael who \u201cbeautified\u201d a disfigured woman in order to facilitate her marriage. According to the elaboration of this mishnah in the Talmud Bavli (Nedarim 66b), Rabbi Yishmael replaced her apparently unsightly false tooth with one he fashioned for her from his own supply of gold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWhereupon, Rabbi Yishmael is said to have wept, saying: \u2018The Daughters of Israel are beautiful, but it is poverty which disfigures them.\u2019 And so, when Rabbi Yishmael died the Daughters of Israel raised a lament saying: \u2018Daughters of Israel weep over Rabbi Yishmael!\u2019 As it is said regarding Saul: \u201cDaughters of Israel: \u2018Weep over Saul, who clothed you in crimson and finery, who decked your robes with jewels of gold.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud Yerushalmi (Nedarim 9:11) goes on to preserve a Rabbinic discussion on this verse: \u201cRabbi Nehemiah suggested that \u201cBenot Yisrael\u201d (Daughters of Israel) might be read as \u201cBanayot she-be-Yisrael\u201d (\u201cBuilders\u201d of Israel, i.e. scholars, see Bavli Shabbat 114a and Yerushalmi Berakhot 9:1) these are the Sanhedrins (\u201cSanhedriot\u201d) of Israel. When King Saul would see a group of scholars, he would give them food and drink. And what is meant by \u201cwho decked your robes with jewels of gold\u201d? When King Saul would hear the biblical basis for a Halakah from the mouth of a Sage, he would praise him [according to Midrash Shmuel 25:1 -- Saul \u201cwould stand and kiss him on his mouth!\u201d]. But Rabbi Yehudah says that Benot Yisrael really does refer to the Daughters of Israel, for when their husbands would go out to war, King Saul would feed them and support them and clothe them in crimson and finery. And from the continuation of the verse: \u2018who decked your robes with jewels of gold,\u2019 we learn that a jewel is only suitable when worn on a well-dressed body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Saul\u2019s sartorial generosity to the Daughters of Israel may also be the biblical basis of the Halakhic stipulation that, in order to rejoice on festivals with his household, a man must buy his wife clothes and jewelry according to his financial ability (Shulhan Arukh, Orah Hayyim 529:2).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Henry Le Jeune, \u201cYe Daughters of Israel, Weep Over Saul,\u201d \/ the atheneum<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":59584,"alt":"","title":"Le Jeune, Henry, 1819-1904; 'Ye daughters of Israel weep over 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Although Saul had pursued David relentlessly, David made a point of demonstrating respect for the king. Even after Saul\u2019s death, David does not hesitate to strike the man who killed him, and openly mourns the former king. Yet, as Malbim points out (v. 24), the relationship between David and Saul didn\u2019t exactly lend itself to personal sorrow. His grief is palpable, however, as he shifts the focus of his lament to Jonathan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan; you were most dear (\u05e0.\u05e2.\u05dd., n-\u2019-m) to me; your love was wonderful to me, more than the love of women<\/span><\/i> (v. 26).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Typically, this verse is understood as a description of David\u2019s feelings for Jonathan: \u201cThe love I felt for you was wondrous, more than the love of women \u2013 who are loved greatly by one who desires them\u201d (Metzudat David). Some suggest the verse builds on David\u2019s earlier words about Saul: he had mentioned daughters of Israel crying over Saul\u2019s death because of what he would do for them; in contrast, David loved Jonathan for his essential goodness, a more exalted love than the women\u2019s feelings for Saul (Malbim).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, the phrases \u201cyour love\u201d and \u201clove of women\u201d are ambiguous: who is the beloved, and who is the one who loves?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ralbag flips the pronouns from the typical understanding and explains \u201cJonathan\u2019s love for David was stronger and more wondrous than the love of women for those they love, which is very strong.\u201d Radak, citing his father, suggests \u201cthose women love\u201d alludes to their children or husbands.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the typical reading of this verse, David is contrasting his love for Jonathan either to romantic love or to the sort of love-for-gain alluded to in the earlier verse about Saul. But if we switch lover and loved, we might find a metaphor of a child basking in a mother\u2019s love.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Considering David\u2019s complicated life and relationship with Saul, we might well imagine what a love \u201cmore wondrous than a mother\u2019s love for her child\u201d would have meant to him. David was on the run for so long that Jonathan\u2019s powerful love and support must have been a steadying force and a comfort.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Hebrew root translated above as \u201cmost dear\u201d might have other connotations. Malbim in several other instances explains this root as connoting a sense of internal soul-satisfaction. Perhaps when David says \u201cyou were \u05e0.\u05e2.\u05dd. <\/span>n-\u2019-m <\/span><\/i>to me,\u201d he is expressing how the powerful love he felt from Jonathan enabled him to maintain an internal sense of calm and security despite his tumultuous life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps that steadying force in the background even contributed to his ability to maintain his principles and refrain from lashing out at his royal nemesis.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":59564,"alt":"","title":"2sam1-friends","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-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 Power Of Their Love\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"More wondrous than a mother\u2019s love for her child\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":59564,"alt":"","title":"2sam1-friends","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam1-friends-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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Samuel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"264","date":"20260902","wall_id":"264"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"484","name":"Mourning","old_id":"884"},{"term_id":"834","name":"David","old_id":"1234"},{"term_id":"885","name":"Saul","old_id":"1285"},{"term_id":"891","name":"Jonathan","old_id":"1291"}]},{"order":12,"id":"59547","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Stand Over Me And Finish Me Off ","post_title":"Stand Over Me And Finish Me Off","slug":"stand-over-me-and-finish-me-off","old_id":"59547","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":"264","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

1:9 \u201cAnd he said to me, \u2018Pray, stand over me and finish me off, for the fainting spell has seized me, for while life is still within me\u2026\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Commentary: \u201cStand over\u201d suggests that Saul himself is barely standing, that he is collapsed against the support of his spear--the very spear that has been associated with his kingship and with his outbursts of rage. \u201cFinish me off\u201d is somewhat inelegant as English diction, but the nuance of the Hebrew (the <\/span>polel<\/span><\/i> conjugation of the verbal stem that means \u201cto die\u201d) is essential to the story: Saul feels he is dying, and he asks the Amalekite lad not to kill him but to finish him off before the Philistines can get to him. The Amalekite and David concur in this indication of what the Amalekite does to Saul.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, <\/span>The Hebrew Bible<\/span>, <\/span><\/em>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":"Stand Over Me And Finish Me Off","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Before the Philistines get to me","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":"II Samuel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"264","date":"20260902","wall_id":"264"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"59566","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Saul\u2019s Last Moments ","post_title":"Saul\u2019s Last Moments","slug":"sauls-last-moments","old_id":"59566","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. 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Just one chapter ago, at the end of the previous book, <\/span>we took note <\/span><\/a>of the fact that Saul\u2019s death is reported in two contradictory fashions. Scripture\u2019s third person narrative, recorded in the closing chapter of 1 Samuel, has Saul falling on his own sword when his armor bearer refused to assist in his suicide. Our chapter presents the report of a survivor of the battle atop Mt. Gilboa (described variously in verses 8, 13, as an Amalekite or the son of an Amalekite convert) who claimed to have found Saul mortally wounded on his own spear and complied with the king\u2019s request to hasten his demise (9-10). Rather than reward him, as he apparently anticipated, David had him executed for the act of <\/span>lese majeste<\/span><\/i> he had perpetrated (14-16).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Of considerable philological interest, is the word <\/span>shavatz<\/span><\/i> that Saul was said to have used to describe his condition (9); it is a <\/span>hapax legomenon<\/span><\/i>, a word that appears nowhere else in the biblical canon. (In Modern Hebrew, <\/span>shavatz<\/span><\/i> means a stroke or apoplexy). Rashi connected it with <\/span>tashbetz<\/span><\/i> (checkered), a term used to describe one of the priestly vestments, and associated it with Saul\u2019s murder of the priests of Nob. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yosef Kara (12th century) admitted that it can only be understood from its context, and refers us to the Aramaic Targum that translates it as a convulsion. Radak (13th century) also defined it contextually, but considered it an illness suffered by the victim of a stab wound. Most intriguing is the Malbim (19th century) who identified it as death throes, explaining that Saul was anticipating a refusal, so he hastened to explain that he already was, for all intents, dead, and therefore the Amalekite need not fear any repercussions to his actions.<\/p>\r\n

Image: \"The Lion of Lucerne,\" a rock relief in Lucerne, Switzerland, designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820\u201321 by Lukas Ahorn.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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\u201cDeath: Transition or Interruption?\u201d<\/a><\/u> by Yehuda Sarna: Biblical texts about the end of life.<\/p>\r\n

When People Say, \"Here I Am\"<\/a><\/u> by Joseph Meszler: What is the significance of this key phrase?<\/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 - II Samuel 1","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":"II Samuel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"264","date":"20260902","wall_id":"264"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":15,"id":"59511","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- II Samuel 1 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- II Samuel 1","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-ii-samuel-1","old_id":"59511","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. It had to be an Amalekite\u2026<\/em> The one who brought the news of Saul\u2019s death, in fact, the one who according to his own testimony aided Saul in killing himself, was an Amalekite. And it\u2019s not just David and the readers who know this. The man also identified himself to Saul: \u201cI am an Amalekite\u201d (verse 8). Saul\u2019s kingship was torn from him 16 chapters ago when he did not fulfill the divine command to destroy Amalek. So it is fitting that an Amalekite helps to bring about the final fulfillment of the punishment.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Spot the differences<\/em>. There are more than a few differences between the death of Saul as it was told in the previous chapter (I Samuel 31) and how it is related to David by the man. Are they complementary? Contradictory? Freely improvised by the Amalekite to win points with David? There\u2019s more than one way to explain the relationship of the two stories.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Signs, symbols - and proof.<\/em> The man brings Saul\u2019s personal belongings from the front: \u201cthe crown from his head and the armlet from his arm\u201d (verse 10). These two objects are not only proof of the truth of the testimony of the man. They are also symbols of kingship that now pass on from Saul to David.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. How the mighty have fallen!<\/em> This is the recurrent question, a sort of chorus for David\u2019s elegy. What does it express? Pain? Lack of comprehension? Blame? Whatever tone you choose to impute to this phrase will affect the reading of the entire dirge.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Why curse?<\/em> The place of the battle is cursed by David: \u201cO hills of Gilboa\u2014 Let there be no dew or rain on you\u201d (verse 21). The curse expresses the deep feelings of mourning, that: \u201cyou shall never return. How could it be, how could it be, and how can it still be that - that the wheat grows again?\u201d (Dorit Tzameret, Kibbutz Beit Hashitah, after the Yom Kippur War).<\/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":"II Samuel 1","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":"II Samuel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"264","date":"20260902","wall_id":"264"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/59499"}],"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=59499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}