Losing the Kingship Twice/2
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Losing the Kingship Twice?
Exegetical Approaches
Given Second Chance
After Shaul's original failure in Gilgal, he repented and was given a second chance. Only after repeating his mistake did he lose the kingship for good.
Sources:Radak # 1
Two Stages
In Chapter 15, Shaul lost the possibility of forming a dynasty, whereas in Chapter 15 his own kingship was cut short.
"עַתָּה הֵכִין י"י אֶת מַמְלַכְתְּךָ אֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד עוֹלָם." – In Chapter 13 Shemuel speaks about losing the possibility of "eternal kingship" (עַד עוֹלָם), suggesting that he was not speaking of Shaul's personal reign but many generations worth of rulers.
"וַיִּמְאָסְךָ י"י מִהְיוֹת מֶלֶךְ " – In Chapter 15, Shemuel says to Shaul that Hashem has rejected him ("וַיִּמְאָסְךָ") from being king, focusing on the individual Shaul, rather than his dynasty
"וַיִּקְרַע י"י אֶת הַמַּמְלָכָה מִיָּדֶךָ" – Radak brings further support for this position from Shemuel's rebuke in Chapter 28,1 where he points to Shaul's action in Amalek specifically as having caused Hashem to tear the kingship away from him and transfer it to David. The wording, "וַיִּקְרַע י"י אֶת הַמַּמְלָכָה מִיָּדֶךָ", and the context of Shaul's imminent death, emphasize that the sin in the war with Amalek caused Shaul's personal loss rather than that of his descendants.
