Difference between revisions of "Did Shemuel Come Back to Life/2"
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<multilink><a href="RSBHG" data-aht="source">R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon</a><a href="RSBHG" data-aht="source">Ginzei Sechter 1 p. 299-300</a><a href="RadakShemuelI28-24" data-aht="source">In Radak Shemuel I 28:24</a><a href="AbarbanelShemuelI28-11" data-aht="source">In Abarbanel Shemuel I 28:11</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon</a></multilink> | <multilink><a href="RSBHG" data-aht="source">R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon</a><a href="RSBHG" data-aht="source">Ginzei Sechter 1 p. 299-300</a><a href="RadakShemuelI28-24" data-aht="source">In Radak Shemuel I 28:24</a><a href="AbarbanelShemuelI28-11" data-aht="source">In Abarbanel Shemuel I 28:11</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon</a></multilink> | ||
</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>How did she fool Shaul?</b> According to the verses, Shaul never sees Shemuel, so it is easy for the woman to have simply pretended that she revived him.  Radak says in the name of R. Chofni that she had another person in hiding who spoke in a low voice and passed as Shemuel. Alternatively she herself disguised her voice and spoke from another room, or used ventriloquism to throw her voice so the sound appeared to emerge from a different place.</point> |
<point><b>How did Ba'alat Ha'Ov know who Shaul was?</b> Radak writes in the name of R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon that Ba'alat HaOv recognized Shaul immediately after he approached her. She only pretended that she did not know until later so that Shaul would believe that she had supernatural powers.  Her loud cry was part of the ruse to suggest that it was her magic which revealed the fact.</point> | <point><b>How did Ba'alat Ha'Ov know who Shaul was?</b> Radak writes in the name of R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon that Ba'alat HaOv recognized Shaul immediately after he approached her. She only pretended that she did not know until later so that Shaul would believe that she had supernatural powers.  Her loud cry was part of the ruse to suggest that it was her magic which revealed the fact.</point> | ||
+ | <point><b>Describing Shemuel</b> – The Ba'alat Ha'Ov might have seen Shemuel while he was alive and thus had no problem describing him to Shaul.  Even if she had not, the description she gives is very vague, and probably true of any number of people.  The fact that it persuaded Shaul that she in fact revived the prophet is somewhat surprising (and might suggest that his desire that the act be true was more important than any real proof.)</point> | ||
<point><b>"יֵּדַע שָׁאוּל"</b> – R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon maintains that the verse can say that Shaul "knew" it was Shemuel even though it was not really him because the root "ידע" can also mean to believe.<fn>In truth, all of these positions would likely explain the verse in this manner since at the point when the narrator shares this, Shaul has neither seen nor heard Shemuel, and has only listened to the Ba'alat Ha'Ov's description of him. Thus, according to no one could Shaul really have "known" for a fact who had appeared.</fn></point> | <point><b>"יֵּדַע שָׁאוּל"</b> – R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon maintains that the verse can say that Shaul "knew" it was Shemuel even though it was not really him because the root "ידע" can also mean to believe.<fn>In truth, all of these positions would likely explain the verse in this manner since at the point when the narrator shares this, Shaul has neither seen nor heard Shemuel, and has only listened to the Ba'alat Ha'Ov's description of him. Thus, according to no one could Shaul really have "known" for a fact who had appeared.</fn></point> | ||
<point><b>"וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל"</b> – R. Saadia questions that if the conversation took place between Shaul and Ba'alat Ha'Ov (and not Shemuel), how can the verse say "וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל".  R. Chofni Gaon responds that this is simply a short way for the verse to say that Ba'alat Ha'Ov said her speech in the name of Shemuel.  Alternatively, the verse is speaking from the perspective of Shaul<fn>As another example of verse which is written from the perspective of a character's beliefs rather than reality, he points to Yehoshua 2:, which speaks of the king's servants chasing after Yehoshua's spies when in reality the spies were in hiding by Rachav.   "וְהָאֲנָשִׁים רָדְפוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם".  R. Saadia argues that if a reader can posit that anytime the text says "and he said" it is really another person speaking this will lead people to play havoc with the text and distort its meaning. R. Chofni responds that in general the simple understanding should be maintained and only when a verse cannot be upheld by logic (such as a case which speaks the dead talking) is there room for reinterpretation.  He points to Shofetim 9:13, which speaks of various plants talking, as another example where most readers would be comfortable reading the verse metaphorically.</fn> who believed that Shemuel was talking.<fn>He would likely explain the language of "And she saw Shemuel" in the same way, that the verse is either written from the point of view of Shaul or means that that she pretended to see Shaul.</fn></point> | <point><b>"וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל"</b> – R. Saadia questions that if the conversation took place between Shaul and Ba'alat Ha'Ov (and not Shemuel), how can the verse say "וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל".  R. Chofni Gaon responds that this is simply a short way for the verse to say that Ba'alat Ha'Ov said her speech in the name of Shemuel.  Alternatively, the verse is speaking from the perspective of Shaul<fn>As another example of verse which is written from the perspective of a character's beliefs rather than reality, he points to Yehoshua 2:, which speaks of the king's servants chasing after Yehoshua's spies when in reality the spies were in hiding by Rachav.   "וְהָאֲנָשִׁים רָדְפוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם".  R. Saadia argues that if a reader can posit that anytime the text says "and he said" it is really another person speaking this will lead people to play havoc with the text and distort its meaning. R. Chofni responds that in general the simple understanding should be maintained and only when a verse cannot be upheld by logic (such as a case which speaks the dead talking) is there room for reinterpretation.  He points to Shofetim 9:13, which speaks of various plants talking, as another example where most readers would be comfortable reading the verse metaphorically.</fn> who believed that Shemuel was talking.<fn>He would likely explain the language of "And she saw Shemuel" in the same way, that the verse is either written from the point of view of Shaul or means that that she pretended to see Shaul.</fn></point> | ||
<point><b>Knowledge of past and future</b> – R. Chofni posits that Shemuel's earlier prophecy that Hashem would cut Shaul's dynasty and that Hashem had left him was public knowledge. So, too, were his sins and the fact that David was supposed to be his successor.  As such, Ba'alat HaOv could speak of these facts. Moreover, as she had seen signs of the Philistines' strength and Shaul's low morale and state of mind, she further guessed that Israel was to lose the coming battle and Shaul would die.  Her words were not proof of some esoteric knowledge that she was privy to but simply an educated guess.</point> | <point><b>Knowledge of past and future</b> – R. Chofni posits that Shemuel's earlier prophecy that Hashem would cut Shaul's dynasty and that Hashem had left him was public knowledge. So, too, were his sins and the fact that David was supposed to be his successor.  As such, Ba'alat HaOv could speak of these facts. Moreover, as she had seen signs of the Philistines' strength and Shaul's low morale and state of mind, she further guessed that Israel was to lose the coming battle and Shaul would die.  Her words were not proof of some esoteric knowledge that she was privy to but simply an educated guess.</point> | ||
− | |||
<point><b>Shaul believing and falling down</b> – Abarbanel asks on this approach from the aftermath of the conversation. We hear that Shaul gets frightened from Shemuel's words. How can Shaul who was smart be misled to thinking that Ba'alat HaOv really saw Shemuel? Also, if Shaul did not see anything by himself why would he fall down with no energy left in him?</point> | <point><b>Shaul believing and falling down</b> – Abarbanel asks on this approach from the aftermath of the conversation. We hear that Shaul gets frightened from Shemuel's words. How can Shaul who was smart be misled to thinking that Ba'alat HaOv really saw Shemuel? Also, if Shaul did not see anything by himself why would he fall down with no energy left in him?</point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> |
Version as of 04:20, 14 September 2016
Did Shemuel Come Back to Life?
Exegetical Approaches
Shemuel was Brought Back to Life
By Ba'alat Ha'Ov
Ba'alat Ha'Ov had powers to bring Shemuel back to life.
Powers of Ba'alat Ha'Ov – According to these sources, necromancy is a real art1 and some people have the power to bring the dead back to life. Malbim, however, limits this ability, maintaining that a necromancer can affect only the material soul which stays with the physical body for twelve months after death. The noble, soul, however, is immune to such magic as it returns to its Creator immediately upon a person's demise.
How did Ba'alat Ha'Ov recognize Shaul – According to these sources, the dead materialize in different ways when called by a king rather than by a layman. To greet a king, the dead will emerge from the ground with their head first, while for a regular person the legs exit first.
"וַתִּזְעַק בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל" – Malbim explains that Ba'alat Ha'Ov cried out because as soon as Shemuel emerged head first she realized that Shaul had lied to her and that she had been speaking to the king all along.
Seeing versus hearing – The verses suggest that while only Ba'alat Ha'Ov was able to see Shemuel,2 Shaul was able to hear and converse with him. These sources claim that this is how necromancy works. The one who raises the dead can see him, while the one who requested him hears his voice.
"וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל" – This verse is understood literally. Since Shemuel was really revived, it was he who spoke to Shaul.
Knowledge of past and future – Since it was actually Shemuel who conversed, he had full knowledge of the past events of which he spoke. In addition, as a prophet, he could tell Shaul what was to occur in the future.
Shemuel's anger
By Hashem
Hashem, not Ba'alat Ha'Ov, revived Shemuel.
Powers of Ba'alat HaOv – According to this position, humans do not have the ability to bring back the dead and the Ba'alat Ha'Ov normally only faked the ability to do so.
"וַתִּזְעַק בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל" – As the Ba'alat Ha'Ov had never in her life revived someone from the dead she was shocked that Shemuel had come back to life.
"אֱלֹהִים רָאִיתִי עֹלִים מִן הָאָרֶץ" – Abarbanel suggests that according to this position the Ba'alat Ha'Ov referred to Shemuel as "Elokim" because she recognized the hand of God in the resurrection.
"Who shall I raise" – Abarbanel questions that the woman's invitation, "who shall I raise for you" assumes that she had such capabilities.3 These commentators would respond that this was simply part of the deceit of her trade. The necromancer needed her clients to believe in her abilities, allowing her to pretend to do as requested.
How did Ba'alat Ha'Ov recognize Shaul?
Why did Hashem choose this path? R. Chofni Gaon4 questions, if Hashem revived Shemuel so as to share with Shaul what was to occur during the war, why did He not more simply answer Shaul through the permitted methods (prophecy or dreams) that Shual had sought to begin with.
"וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל" – R. Saadia points to this phrase as proof that Shemuel had been resurrected, for if this was just the necromancer pretending to be Shemuel, how could the narrator write, "and Shemuel spoke"?
Knowledge of past and future – Shemuel, as a prophet revived by Hashem, could easily refer back to events that had happened in the past and also foretell the future.
Shemuel's Soul Lived On
Sources: R. Shemuel b. Eli
A Demon was Created
Ba'alat Ha'Ov had a demon cling to Shemuel's body
Powers of Ba'alat HaOv
The Demon
Usages of the Ov in Tanakh
Shemuel speaking
Shemuel's prophecy
No One Came Back to Life
Imagination
Shaul only imagined that Shemuel had returned from the dead.
The story – Shaul was just imagining that Shemuel was talking to him and thought that it was happening.
Shaul imagining a prophecy – According to the approach one has to explain how did Shaul imagine something in the future? Ralbag explains that Shaul had some prophetic power that told him he will die. In addition Shaul knew that Hashem left him and was thinking of his death so it is not hard to say that he imagined Shemuel telling him about his death.
Prophecy
Powers of evil
Why by Ba'alat HaOv – Abarbanel asks why did Shaul need to go to Ba'alat HaOv to imagine what will happen. Ralbag says that Ba'alat HaOv told the Shaul the look of Shemuel which helped him start imagining that Shemuel was speaking.
Shaul believing in his imagination – Abarbanel questions that Shaul would differentiate between his imagination and what is really happening and saying this would make Shaul into a sickly person.
Ba'alat HaOv knowing Shaul – Ba'alat HaOv guessed that the only person asking for Shemuel would have been Shaul.
Trickery
Ba'alat HaOv pretended that she saw and heard Shemuel, leading Shaul to believe that Shemuel had been brought back to life.
Sources: R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon
How did she fool Shaul? According to the verses, Shaul never sees Shemuel, so it is easy for the woman to have simply pretended that she revived him. Radak says in the name of R. Chofni that she had another person in hiding who spoke in a low voice and passed as Shemuel. Alternatively she herself disguised her voice and spoke from another room, or used ventriloquism to throw her voice so the sound appeared to emerge from a different place.
How did Ba'alat Ha'Ov know who Shaul was? Radak writes in the name of R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon that Ba'alat HaOv recognized Shaul immediately after he approached her. She only pretended that she did not know until later so that Shaul would believe that she had supernatural powers. Her loud cry was part of the ruse to suggest that it was her magic which revealed the fact.
Describing Shemuel – The Ba'alat Ha'Ov might have seen Shemuel while he was alive and thus had no problem describing him to Shaul. Even if she had not, the description she gives is very vague, and probably true of any number of people. The fact that it persuaded Shaul that she in fact revived the prophet is somewhat surprising (and might suggest that his desire that the act be true was more important than any real proof.)
"יֵּדַע שָׁאוּל" – R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon maintains that the verse can say that Shaul "knew" it was Shemuel even though it was not really him because the root "ידע" can also mean to believe.5
"וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל" – R. Saadia questions that if the conversation took place between Shaul and Ba'alat Ha'Ov (and not Shemuel), how can the verse say "וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל". R. Chofni Gaon responds that this is simply a short way for the verse to say that Ba'alat Ha'Ov said her speech in the name of Shemuel. Alternatively, the verse is speaking from the perspective of Shaul6 who believed that Shemuel was talking.7
Knowledge of past and future – R. Chofni posits that Shemuel's earlier prophecy that Hashem would cut Shaul's dynasty and that Hashem had left him was public knowledge. So, too, were his sins and the fact that David was supposed to be his successor. As such, Ba'alat HaOv could speak of these facts. Moreover, as she had seen signs of the Philistines' strength and Shaul's low morale and state of mind, she further guessed that Israel was to lose the coming battle and Shaul would die. Her words were not proof of some esoteric knowledge that she was privy to but simply an educated guess.
Shaul believing and falling down – Abarbanel asks on this approach from the aftermath of the conversation. We hear that Shaul gets frightened from Shemuel's words. How can Shaul who was smart be misled to thinking that Ba'alat HaOv really saw Shemuel? Also, if Shaul did not see anything by himself why would he fall down with no energy left in him?