Losing the Kingship Twice/2
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Losing the Kingship Twice?
Exegetical Approaches
Given a 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
Evidence of Repentance
- Radak might suggest that even though there is no explicit evidence in the text of Shaul's repentance and Hashem's subsequent annulling of the punishment it can be assumed.
- Alternatively, it is possible that the text hints to a renewal of the kingship in Chapter 11, when Shemuel says, "לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה הַגִּלְגָּל וּנְחַדֵּשׁ שָׁם הַמְּלוּכָה". If so, Shaul's actions in the war against Amon constituted a correction of his original mistake in Gilgal, leading to an overturning of the decree. This approach, however, must posit that the stories are written out of order and explain what purpose that might serve. See below for elaboration.
Signs of Achronology – Several factors might suggest that the events of Chapters 13-14 preceded those of Chapter 11 and immediately followed the original coronation described in Chapter 10:
- In Chapters 13-14, Shaul fights the Philistines with just a small, local force in the manner of the judges, while in Chapter 11 he mobilizes the entire country to fight Amon, amassing an army of 300,000. The latter would seem to be a later stage in the building up of his military, and, moreover, would appear to be possible only after the Philistine threat was removed.
- In Chapter 10 Shemuel to wait for him for seven days in Gilgal, which he does in Chapter 13-14. It is difficult to see how the events of Chapter 11 could have fit in the interim.
Two Stages
In Chapter 13, 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.
Relationship between the two sins
