Difference between revisions of "Gidon and Shaul/0"
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<h2>Literary Allusions</h2> | <h2>Literary Allusions</h2> | ||
<p>The above similarities in content are buttressed by several linguistic parallels. </p> | <p>The above similarities in content are buttressed by several linguistic parallels. </p> | ||
− | <p><b>I. The Early Stages of Gidon and Shaul's Careers</b>:  | + | <p><b>I. The Early Stages of Gidon and Shaul's Careers</b>: </p> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><b>The Prophet's Rebuke</b> – Before Gidon's appointment, an unnamed prophet speaks to the Israelites, mentioning how Hashem took them out of Egypt and saved them from their enemies. Before Shaul's crowning, Shemuel speaks to the nation using almost identical language.</li> | <li><b>The Prophet's Rebuke</b> – Before Gidon's appointment, an unnamed prophet speaks to the Israelites, mentioning how Hashem took them out of Egypt and saved them from their enemies. Before Shaul's crowning, Shemuel speaks to the nation using almost identical language.</li> |
Version as of 00:30, 9 December 2016
Gidon and Shaul
Introduction
Though Gidon and Shaul might initially appear to have little in common, the narratives of the two leaders actually have significant overlap. A study of the parallels reveals that in the beginning of their paths, Shaul and Gidon are much alike. However, with time, Shaul gradually moves in a different direction, until he turns into a tyrannical ruler, much closer in nature to Gidon's son Avimelekh, than to the Shofet.1
Content Parallels
The table below charts many of the content similarities between the two narratives:
The Early Stages of Gidon and Shaul's Careers |
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Gidon's Battle with Midyan and Shaul's Battle at Michmas |
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Avimelekh and Shaul |
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Literary Allusions
The above similarities in content are buttressed by several linguistic parallels.
I. The Early Stages of Gidon and Shaul's Careers:
- The Prophet's Rebuke – Before Gidon's appointment, an unnamed prophet speaks to the Israelites, mentioning how Hashem took them out of Egypt and saved them from their enemies. Before Shaul's crowning, Shemuel speaks to the nation using almost identical language.
- Hashem's Support – Both Gidon and Shaul are sent to rescue Israel ("וְהוֹשַׁעְתָּ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל"/ "וְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת עַמִּי"), and are promised Hashem's support (כִּי אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ"/ כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים עִמָּךְ"). A heavenly spirit ("רוּחַ י"י" / "רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים") then descends upon each.
- Battle Preparations and Tactics – Gidon sends out messengers ("וּמַלְאָכִים שָׁלַח") to gather an army. He then splits it into three sections ("שְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁים"), and comes to ("וַיָּבֹא") the enemy camp ("הַמַּחֲנֶה") at midnight ("הָאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַתִּיכוֹנָה"). Shaul also sends out messengers ("וַיְשַׁלַּח... הַמַּלְאָכִים") to gather an army. He then splits it into three sections ("שְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁים"), and comes through ("וַיָּבֹאוּ") the enemy camp ("הַמַּחֲנֶה") at dawn ("בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר").
II. Gidon and Shaul in Battle: See Table II
- Sending to the Tents – Both Gidon and Shaul gather an army ("וַיִּצָּעֲקוּ הָעָם"/ וַיִּזָּעֵק אֲבִיעֶזֶר אַחֲרָיו) through a shofar blast (""תָּקַע בַּשּׁוֹפָר"/"וַיִּתְקַע בַּשּׁוֹפָר"), and then send the rest back to their tents ("שִׁלַּח אִישׁ לְאֹהָלָיו").
- Size of Enemy Army – Both the Midianites and the Philistines are described as being as vast as the sand on the shore. ("כַּחוֹל שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם לָרֹב").
- Confusion in enemy camp – During the battle, both the Midianite and the Philistines turn on themselves ("חֶרֶב אִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ"). There is trembling in the camps ("חֲרָדָה בַמַּחֲנֶה"/ "וְכׇל הַמַּחֲנֶה הֶחֱרִיד")
III. Avimelekh and Shaul: See Table III
- Bad Spirit – Both Avimelekh and Shaul are affected by a bad spirit ("רוּחַ רָעָה") sent by Hashem.
- Rebuke from the Mountain – Both Yotam and David stand ("וַיַּעֲמֹד") on top of a mountain ("בְּרֹאשׁ הַר" / "עַל רֹאשׁ הָהָר") and call out ("וַיִּקְרָא").
- Death – Avimelekh and Shaul both ask their arms-bearer ("נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו") to unsheathe their sword ("שְׁלֹף חַרְבְּךָ") and stab them ("וַיִּדְקְרֵהוּ" / "וְדׇקְרֵנִי").
Analysis
As both stories deal with cases of battle it is perhaps not surprising that there should be similar language in the respective chapters. In addition, much of the parallel language is not unique to these stories. Nonetheless, the abundance and concentration of the examples might point to some level of intentionality and not simply sheer coincidence
- Distinctive phrases –
- The Early Stages of Gidon and Shaul's Careers – Though not unique, the phrases "שְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁים" and the term "אַשְׁמֹרֶת" are found only rarely. 6 Similarly, only a handful of other individuals are given the epithet "גִּבּוֹר חָיִל".7 Most of the other parallels, however, do not contain singular language.
- Gidon's Battle and Shaul's Battle at Michmas – The phrases "שִׁלַּח אִישׁ לְאֹהָלָיו" and "חֶרֶב אִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ" appear only in these stories,8 and there is a "חֲרָדָה בַמַּחֲנֶה" in only two other instances.9 The phrase "כַּחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל / שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם לָרֹב", while not unique, is also found only rarely,10
- Avimelekh and Shaul – The term "רוּחַ רָעָה", the combination of phrases "וַיַּעֲמֹד" and "בְּרֹאשׁ הַר" / "עַל רֹאשׁ הָהָר", and the request "שְׁלֹף חַרְבְּךָ" appear only in these stories. The term arms-bearer "נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו" and the verb stab (דקר) are also found only in only a handful of other places in Tanakh.11
- Degree of similarity – Though the speech of the prophet to both Gidon and Shaul is almost identical, and there are several parallels which have a high degree of similarity,12 many of the other parallels are not exact. In several of them synonyms substitute for a certain word,13 or there is a change in order, number or speaker.
Points of Contrast
Most of the points of contrast between the narratives relate to the difference between Shaul's behavior in the battle of Michmas and that of Gidon in his war against Midyan:
- Small army – In Shofetim, it is explicit that Hashem is behind the small size of the army, as He actively has Gidon send men home. Hashem wants it to be obvious that victory is due to Him and not a valiant fighting force:" פֶּן יִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר יָדִי הוֹשִׁיעָה לִּי". In Shemuel, in contrast, the people leave on their own, from fear and not via command. It is possible that the parallel between the stories means to suggest that in Sefer Shemuel, too, Hashem is working behind the scenes to reduce the number of soldiers, with the very same goal, that the people do not attribute success to their monarch but rather to Hashem.
- At war – While Gidon obliges to reduce his fighting force and goes ahead to attack with only 300 men, Shaul acts to prevent more deserters from leaving his army, and then abstains from fighting with the small numbers left him.
- God versus man – As he goes to war Gidon tells the people, "קוּמוּ כִּי נָתַן י"י בְּיֶדְכֶם אֶת מַחֲנֵה מִדְיָן" and they cry "חֶרֶב לַיהֹוָה וּלְגִדְעוֹן", attributing salvation to Hashem. No equivalent is found by Shaul. In fact, his constant focus on the human aspects of battle (the size of his army etc.) suggest that he thinks victory is due to the might of man, not God.
- Seeking out Hashem – While Gidon constantly asks Hashem for signs and encouragement before fighting, Shaul consistently acts without the guidance of prophet or priest. Thus, in order to turn to battle, he brings the offering without waiting for Shemuel (13:8-12), and tells the priest to stop seeking God (Shemuel I 14:18-20).
- Food – Whereas Gidon worries that his tired army should have food, Shaul insists that they fast so as not to lose the momentum of battle.