Chronology of Shemuel I 16 – 17/2

Chronology of Shemuel I 16 – 17

Exegetical Approaches

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Chronological Order

The chapters are written in their proper chronological order.

Sources:Bavli YevamotYevamot 76bAbout the Bavli, R. Shemuel b. Chofni GaonBereshit 48:8About R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon #2, RashiShemuel I 17:15Shemuel I 17:55About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RadakShemuel I 17:12Shemuel I 17:55About R. David Kimchi, RidShemuel I 17:55About R. Yeshayah of Trani, R. Yosef ibn KaspiShemuel I 17:55About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi, RalbagShemuel I 17:55About R. Levi b. Gershom

Why didn't Shaul recognize David? These commentators offer several possibilities:

• Shaul was asking a different question – Bavli Yevamot, and others in its wake,¹ explain that Shaul was not asking for David's name but rather his lineage, to ascertain his worthiness to rule. This, however, is somewhat difficult as Shaul already knew who David's father was (see 16:22) and David does not offer any further identification.
• Evil Spirit – Rabbi Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon² suggests that when the "evil spirit" (רוּחַ הָרָעָה) came upon Shaul, he became confused and no longer remembered who David was.³
• Too busy – Ralbag and Ibn Kaspi assert that since Shaul had so many different tasks and concerns in the kingdom, he did not remember the names and details of all of his servants.⁴
• Unaware that fought – The commentary attributed to R"Y Kara uniquely suggests that after David found Shaul's armor unwieldy and removed it, Shaul assumed that David was no longer going to fight Golyat.  As such, when he saw someone head to the battlefield he asked Avner who it was.⁵

Why was David in Beit Lechem? Rashi and Radak explain that the phrase "וְדָוִד הֹלֵךְ וָשָׁב מֵעַל שָׁאוּל" comes to teach that David only worked part time in the palace, and shepherded at home in between his royal visits.  However, if David had already been appointed the king's arms-bearer, it is strange that he would have been sent home specifically when a war was going on.

"כִּי נַעַר אַתָּה" versus "וְגִבּוֹר חַיִל וְאִישׁ מִלְחָמָה" – This position might explain that when the servants recommend David to Shaul in Chapter 16, they refer to him as a valiant warrior despite his lack of true experience because they want to present him in the best possible light.  When Shaul evaluates his chances at winning Golyat, in contrast, he belittles whatever might and courage David might have, because he deems them insignificant when compared with Golyat's vast military knowledge and capabilities.

Doubling of David's family details – It is not clear why the verses need to introduce David's family a second time in Chapter 17 if the reader already knows this information from the previous chapter.⁶  Abarbanel posits that Chapter 17 marks the beginning of the David narratives and as such David's lineage is elaborated upon again.⁷

Eliav's attitude to David – Eliav might speak scornfully to David, not despite his brother's appointment as arms-bearer, but because of it.  It is possible that Eliav's attitude stems from jealousy over David's promotion. Nonetheless, it is strange that Eliav should speak with David as if he had no business coming to the battlefield, if David was part of Shaul's armed forces.

"וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ שָׁאוּל בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא" – when? According to the commentary attributed to R"Y Kara,  this verse is chronological and refers to Shaul's appointing David to be a permanent, rather than temporary, member of the royal household after his victory over Golyat.

David's rise to power

Achronological Order

Sources:R. Shemuel b. Chofni GaonBereshit 48:8About R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon #1

How did Shaul not recognize David?

How was David in Beit Lechem?

17:33 – "כִּי נַעַר אַתָּה וְהוּא אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה מִנְּעֻרָיו"

Doubling of list of Yishai's sons

Eliav's attitude to David

אין מוקדם ומאוחר

Overlapping stories

How did Shaul not recognize David?

How was David in Beit Lechem?

17:33 – "כִּי נַעַר אַתָּה וְהוּא אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה מִנְּעֻרָיו"

Doubling of list of Yishai's sons

Eliav's attitude to David

אין מוקדם ומאוחר

¹ See Rashi, R"Y Kara, and Radak.

² See his second suggestion.  The Rid and Ibn Kaspi also raise this as a possible solution.

³ One might question, however, why Avner too did not know David's identity.

⁴ The Rid adds that David only worked part time in the palace, as he went to and from there to shepherd his father's sheep.

⁵ According to this commentary, Shaul did not ask about David's identity after he finished fighting, but beforehand, when he first headed towards Golyat, as the verse itself says, "וְכִרְאוֹת שָׁאוּל אֶת דָּוִד יֹצֵא לִקְרַאת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי". The verse is written achronologically, perhaps so as not to interrupt the drama of the story.  Verse 58 is still difficult for this position since it has Shaul asking David who he is even after he has returned from the battlefield and stands in front of the king.  The commentary responds by suggesting that Shaul could not believe that it was really David who had gone.

⁶ If the verses had only mentioned the sons who went to war, the repetition would be understandable as it comes to explain why David went to visit the Isarelite camp. However, the mention of Yishai and the fact that he had eight sons seems redundant as it shares no new information.

⁷ It is not clear, however, why Chapter 17 rather than Chapter 16 should be considered the opening of the unit.