Critical Review on Heroism of Saul Essay Example

portrayed in 1 Samuel 24; 26 and instead consider his dark side, allowing us to reassess David's character.

He forcefully revealed David's face, uncovering him as a mature individual capable of dangerous actions. His knowledge of ancient Israeli history is extensive. He not only analyzes fictional characters but also their connections to the historical context. Personally, I do not think that the notion of 'the rise of the humble and the fall of the powerful' applies to the storyline in the Old Testament. Saul was not considered humble, rendering this concept irrelevant to him. Ultimately, he became a victim of his predetermined destiny controlled by God. From my viewpoint, God is also a character present in all stories within the Hebrew bible.

From the very beginning, Saul's relationship with God was a compromise because Saul was reluctant to be appointed. As stated in 1 Samuel 10:19, "But you have today rejected your God, who delivers you from all your catastrophes and your hurts; yet you have said, 'No, but set a male monarch over us.'" The narratives of the Old Testament clearly show how personal experiences of God were crucial for the endurance of the Israeli state throughout the centuries. It is evident that God orchestrated the confusion and misery in Saul's life, leading him to madness.

According to Nicholson (2002, p76-80), when individuals adhere to God's values, they thrive. Conversely, when they disobey, they incur God's displeasure and the entire state suffers. In the case of Saul, he is chosen by God rather than by the people. Samuel has a dream in which God speaks to him, identifying Saul as King (1 Samuel 12;11-13). David easily ascends

to the throne due to Saul's failure. David does not take matters into his own hands or have any involvement in Saul's death. Both Saul and David fail in front of God but are anointed by Him.

Both Saul and David are depicted as human individuals who are capable of making both mistakes and achievements. Three key learnings from this article include: first, the ability to recognize my own interpretation or understanding of the text, as now I can identify the perspectives of individuals who are briefly mentioned or overlooked. Second, acknowledging that God is ultimately responsible for the rise and fall of all things. Third, recognizing my own limitations as a human being and understanding that we are merely agents in God's control. The book of Samuel was created by combining independent pieces into one complex narrative. Scholars consider the stories about the Ark in 1 Samuel 4-7 as one unit due to their focus on the future of the Ark during a specific period (Drane, 2000).

The Ark's introduction seems to cause Samuel, the main character, to disappear. Historians suggest that the story of the Ark may go back to the 10th century BC in order to educate pilgrims visiting Jerusalem for festivals about its early history and importance (Klein, 1983). The Old Testament illustrates how Israel's worship of God has always been a part of their religious connection, even during their time in the desert. The Israelites worshipped a collapsible shelter called the Tabernacle, which contained a wooden box known as the 'Ark of the Covenant'. This box resembled Egypt's 'holy boxes' and was adorned with sacred symbols.

The Ark of the Covenant had to

be portable in order to be transported. It represented the unseeable Yahweh, as visual depictions were not allowed. The Ark served the purpose of symbolizing Yahweh. According to 1 Kings 8:9, it was believed that the Ark contained the actual tablets of the covenant. The significance of the Ark in Israelite history can be seen in their military accounts, as they believed that victory was impossible without it (Num 14:44). Over time, the Ark grew in importance in the lives of the people. Even Israel's earliest kings relied on it for their destiny.

The Old Testament presents a contrast between Saul, who ignored and displeased God, and David, who revered Him and achieved success. The Ark symbolized God's presence in the Old Testament and had specific regulations associated with it. "Lord of hosts" was a common term used to address God. Moreover, the concept of "Glory" is frequently referenced in connection to God (1 Sam 4:21-22) (Drane, 2000, p 54). The Bible recounts the initial conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines. The Philistines were invaders who oppressed Canaan during the years 1370-1200 BCE.

The confrontation occurred in Ebenezer, which was part of the Israelite Camp. This resulted in a catastrophe for Israel, as described in 1 Sam 4:3-11. To boost morale, the seniors commanded Hophni and Phinehas to bring the Ark to them. When the Ark arrived, everyone cried out with joy around it. Upon hearing this, the Philistines mobilized their full force to win the Ark from them, which they were successful in doing according to Hertzberg (1964, P 47-50).

Verse 12 portrays a vivid scene in which a messenger, appearing weary and wearing torn clothes,

runs an arduous 20-mile race towards Eli with an air of suspense. Despite Eli's blindness (v15), he eagerly awaits news of the Ark of God. The narrator implies that, despite his flaws and shortcomings, Eli still has concern for the Ark, which is more dominant than his paternal instinct (v18). Interestingly, Eli is the last to hear the news, even though the rest of the city already knows. This might be because Eli is situated on the Mizpah side of Shiloh (v13). When asked what happened, the messenger delivers four horrifying clauses to Eli (v17) (Smith, 1992, p. 34-38). As soon as he completes his journey, the old man collapses from his seat, breaking his neck in the process (v18). The author further explains that Eli was both "old and heavy."

The reason why Eli is mentioned as being heavy could be because he was a burden on Israel or due to his ineffective leadership over Israel. The deaths of Phinehas and Hophni may not have been viewed as bad from Eli's perspective, but the average Israeli citizen likely saw the deaths of these corrupt sons in a different light (Bodner, 2003, p. 46-47). The author's additional comments about Eli's opinion for 40 years are seemingly intended to place him in the category of Judges as described in the book of Judges. In conclusion, the Ark served as a visual representation of God for the Israelis and they treated it as a lucky charm or idol. As a result, God punished Israel by causing them to lose the battle and also lose their most cherished possession, their Glory (Polzin, 1989, p. 57-58). These praises create a

holy atmosphere that emphasizes the submissive nature of the listener.

Besides, this creates a sense of dramatic sarcasm. Saul arrives on the scene with his horse, accompanied by Abner and his soldiers, in a very important manner. He first instructs the Priests to be silent. Then he questions the High Priest about David's visit and his whereabouts. It is clear from Saul's perspective that he has no fear of God and is no longer worried about the consequences. When the High Priest claims ignorance of David's location, Saul becomes enraged and commands Abner to execute the Lord's Priests until the High Priest confesses.

The officials of Abner and the King refuse to execute the priests when instructed by Saul. In his anger, Saul thrusts his spear into one official's chest. This shows that Saul is consumed by envy and hatred towards David, willing to kill no matter how many. As a result, Doeg willingly takes on the job and murders each priest, as he is originally from Edom.

In Saul's own words, he states that "it takes a heathen to obey." Eventually, when the High Priest mentions David's name, Saul's anger reaches its peak and the evil spirit completely possesses him, leading him to kill the Priest. This scene demonstrates Saul's savage nature and his selfishness in seeking power and the throne. He is prepared to eliminate anyone who opposes him. The Bible story conveys a similar message by presenting Saul as a cruel and ruthless king who becomes envious of God and turns away from Him. The books of 1 ; 2 Samuel narrate Israel's shift from a religious state to a monarchy.

The passage examines the shift

in leadership in the state, from spiritual leaders to a king. It presents this period in Israeli history through the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David. The Book of Samuel emphasizes the rivalry between David and Saul, emphasizing David's portrayal as God's chosen ruler. Although David is shown as a successful king, Saul's role as king is depicted as a total failure. The narrative intends to persuade readers of David's rightful claim to the throne, overshadowing Saul.

The biblical text presents a multifaceted portrayal of Saul. On one hand, he is depicted as heroic and magnificent (1 Sam 9:1-2, 5-10, etc.), but on the other hand, he is often shown as a villain among the characters (Samuel 14:36-44: 18:20-29: 1911-24: 20:20-34, etc.). As previously discussed, the Israelites requested a King to rule over them, rejecting both God and Samuel (1 Sam 8:6-10). This insulted and angered Samuel who tried to dissuade them by explaining that human kings make mistakes (1 Sam 8:11-18). In response to this rejection, God chose a humble and handsome farm boy as their King who was also skilled in battle (1 Sam 9.2). From my perspective, the Israelites desired a leader with these qualities because they wanted an effective battlefield commander.

It is evident that Samuel, a prophet and a judge, was unable to lead an army in battle. Everything was going well for Saul until he defied Samuel's instructions regarding the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:1-3). God commanded Saul to "utterly destroy all they have" and not spare anything. The narrator implies that Saul is misguided and that Samuel, the priest, now has more authority due to his righteousness (1 Sam 15:13-26). In

response, Samuel accuses Saul of rebellion and disobedience to God's commands, and he also strips Saul of his kingship. In distress and desperation, Saul falls to the ground and clings to Samuel's robe, pleading for forgiveness (1 Sam 15:27). The narrator suggests that Saul is not afraid of God, but rather losing his kingship.

The divine spirit has abandoned him and an evil spirit has taken over. Even his household has deserted him, allowing him to do as he pleases. They all support David, exemplified by the friendly relationship between David and Jonathan, as well as Michal's marriage to David, she had to be there for him. The differences between Saul and his own people become apparent as he relies on an Edomite to carry out his order to kill the priest (1 Sam 22:6-19). The brutal acts in this scene are intended to frighten and prevent Saul's people from assisting David. In the end, Saul realizes his weakness and accepts his fate by going into battle knowing he has already lost, taking his sons and himself by falling on his own sword (1 Sam 31:4).

Upon his death, the recognition and unity that he strived for in his life is finally achieved. The Bible text contains a variety of origins that have evolved over centuries, representing different ideas about monarchy. Scholars have differing opinions on this matter. For example, Preston (1982:27-46) suggests that Saul is part of a larger narrative from 1 Samuel to 1 Kings 2. According to this perspective, the narrative depicts the rise of monarchy and the political changes it brought about. However, the writer's main focus is on the individuals who played

a role in facilitating this transition. In recent times, biblical scholars have engaged in extensive debates about writings within the Bible, arguing that they are influenced by the author's belief in divinity.

Davies (1989) argues that determining the historical accuracy of biblical figures such as David, Joshua, and Abraham is nearly impossible due to a lack of evidence outside of the biblical text. He points out the different portrayals by various writers, highlighting the stark differences in the character of David in Samuel 1 and Samuel 2. Van Seters (1983), as cited in Brooks (2005), suggests that there are no sources predating the Deuteronomist in the Old Testament. However, despite these arguments, it is undeniable that the Bible itself serves as a valuable historical source; further research is needed to separate truth from fiction. In my opinion, Saul's lack of diplomacy skills hindered his ability to unite different groups into a cohesive state. His downfall was primarily caused by political turmoil surrounding him and a lack of support after being anointed. Lastly, David's reputation and personal charm overshadowed Saul's.

Overall, Saul's assigned task of unifying the old tribal ideals of the people in an emerging province proved to be extremely difficult for him, resulting in his inevitable downfall.

Bibliography

1. Barbara Green ( 2004 ) How are The Mighty Fallen? A Dialogic Study of King Saul in 1 Samuel ; Continuum.
2. Bodner, Keith ( 2003 ) National Insecurity A primer on the first Book of Samuel: Toronto, Clements Publishing.
3. Brook Shalom Simcha ( 2005 ) Saul and the Monarchy: a new look- ( the society for Old Testament survey monographs ) ; Ashgate Publishing Limited, England.

10, 1 Samuel: Word Books, Publisher. WACO, Texas [ 38-39 ]

Phillip, (1989) the Old Testament World; Cambridge University Press

Sarah Nicholson (2002). Three faces of Saul; an Intertextual attack to scriptural calamity; Sheffield Academic Press

Smith Henry Preserved (1992). A critical and

Exegetic Commentary: Edinburgh, T & A; T Clark Ltd [34-38]

Thomas R. Preston, The Heroism of Saul in J. Cheryl Exum (ed.)

) The historical books ; Sheffield Reader ; Sheffield ; Sheffield Academic Press.