Biblical Times Podcast

25: Saul and Jonathan: Turbulent Relationships

In previous episodes, we focused on the pursuer-pursued relationship between Samuel and Saul. We described how Samuel, instead of supporting and assisting the young and inexperienced king, publicly humiliated him and undermined his authority as king and military commander. We also showed how Saul silently and submissively endured Samuel's verbal attacks. In Chapter 14, a new character enters the story - Jonathan, Saul's firstborn son. As the natural heir, Jonathan was destined to succeed his father and become the second king of Israel. Saul's mental deterioration and his troubled relationship with his son are revealed against the backdrop of the battle with the Philistines. That day, Jonathan initiated warfare without informing his father, thereby bypassing the king's authority who was also the army's commander. Before joining the battle, Saul made his warriors swear not to eat until evening. The consequences of this strange oath were immediate: the warriors, having eaten nothing all day, became exhausted to the point of fainting. Jonathan, who was not present at the oath-taking and knew nothing of it, tasted a bit of honey which gave him an energy boost, as the sugar in honey is an exceptional source of energy. Against the backdrop of the battle day, the author reveals not only the troubled and alienated relationship between father and son but primarily the worrying transformation in Saul's mental state. Saul who had bowed his head before Samuel's wrathful words disappeared, replaced by a new, obsessive, and compulsive character. The change in Saul's personality first appears in Chapter 14 when he learns of Jonathan's violated the oath - an oath he knew nothing about. For a single drop of honey, Saul intended to execute his son. Only the forceful intervention of his soldiers prevented the death sentence from being carried out. From a literary perspective, Chapter 14 introduces the following chapters. Against the backdrop of the ongoing war with the Philistines, the author describes Saul's mental deterioration, until his descent into a world of hallucinations and threatening evil spirits.

24: The Pursuer and the Pursued - Part II

This episode delves into the psychological dynamics of Samuel and Saul. The turning point in Samuel's personality—previously depicted as gentle and reserved—occurs when the tribal elders visit his home to request the appointment of a warrior-king for Israel. They point out that his sons are corrupt and therefore unfit to inherit his position (Chapter 8). While Samuel ignores the harsh criticism directed at his sons, from that moment onward, he is portrayed as a vengeful and angry man. Instead of appointing the warrior-king as the elders sought, Samuel chooses young Saul—a man with no military experience and anxious tendencies. Saul was someone Samuel could, and did, manipulate, torment, and humiliate. The narrative depicts Saul's gradual psychological decline, culminating on the eve of his final battle against the Philistines. Desperate and broken, Saul seeks out the Witch of Endor and asks her to summon Samuel’s spirit from the dead. When Samuel’s spirit rises, it mercilessly berates Saul, leaving the king collapsed and helpless on the ground. This episode concludes with a striking plot twist. Samuel, who initially appointed an inexperienced and fragile young man as king, repeats this pattern by selecting another young man with no military background—David. However, unlike Saul, David proves to be a natural leader: charismatic and emotionally resilient.

23: Samuel: The Pursuer and the Pursued

This episode presents the first meeting between two contrasting figures, whose relationship will develop into a powerful historical and psychological drama. Samuel, the experienced religious leader, reveals himself in his old age as a zealous, angry, and vengeful character - contrary to the expectation that he would become a measured and balanced leader. Despite his impressive appearance and tall stature, Saul turns out to have a fragile and submissive personality. The Bible describes the three coronations in which Samuel crowned Saul as the first king of Israel. While one would expect the young king's coronation to be a festive and respectful event, the opposite occurred. Each coronation was more humiliating and traumatic than the last. In this episode, we lay the foundation for the troubled relationship between the two, which will continue to escalate and accompany Saul's miserable years of reign until his tragic end. The sharp contrast between Samuel and Saul creates a powerful drama that unfolds against the backdrop of the struggle against the Philistines.

22: Samuel and the Tribal Elders

The episode deals with the transition period of Israelite society from a tribal structure to a monarchy, because of the Philistine threat to Israelite settlements. The Philistines, who arrived in the land of Israel around 1200 BCE, initially settled in coastal cities and later penetrated inland, aiming to forcibly take over the houses and lands of the Israelites. The Philistines excelled in military organization, advanced warfare methods, and the knowledge required to produce iron weapons. Moreover, their society was led by skilled military commanders who cooperated in war times. By contrast, the Israelite tribal society was led by elders with civilian roles, who did not cooperate even in times of war - weakening them all and playing into the hands of the Philistines. The tribal elders understood the need for unity and the appointment of a king who would establish a unified army to protect all the tribes of Israel. Chapter 8 describes their meeting with Samuel and their demand to appoint a king. Chapter 8 reveals another critical fact: Samuel had two corrupt sons who took bribes, and despite knowing this, he prepared them to inherit his position, which the elders strongly opposed. Samuel opposed the elders' request to appoint a king, claiming it was a rebellion against God, but God instructed him to comply with their request. In our view, as revenge for the harsh criticism directed at his sons, Samuel chose a young man lacking self-confidence and military experience - Saul - as king. In the following episodes, we will prove this claim and also demonstrate that Samuel brought about Saul's downfall.

21: Samuel: The Destruction of the Temple at Shiloh

This episode focuses on Chapter 4 of the Book of Samuel, introducing the Philistines and their conflict with Israel. The Philistines were ancient tribes who arrived on Israel's coast around the 12th century BCE.  Initially, they settled in coastal cities of Israel, but gradually they moved inland. This shift led to wars with the Israelites over farmland and water sources. Chapter 4 describes a severe battle where the Philistines defeated Israel, destroyed the temple at Shiloh, and captured the Ark of the Covenant. The Philistines took the Ark to Dagon's (their supreme god) temple in Ashdod. Still, according to the biblical narrative, the God of Israel prevailed over Dagon and afflicted the Philistines with plagues. After seven months, they returned the Ark to Israel, though they continued to attack Israelite settlements. This episode notes that while the Philistines left numerous archaeological artifacts indicating a sophisticated culture, they eventually disappeared from history. However, during the period described in the Book of Samuel, they were at the height of their power and significantly influenced the ancient Near East.