Page "Saul" Paragraph 45

The second view of Saul makes him appear in the most favourable light as man, as hero, and as king.

This view is similar to that of the monarchical source.

In this view it was on account of his modesty that he did not reveal the fact that he had been anointed king ( 1 Samuel 10: 16 ; Meg.

13b ); and he was extraordinarily upright as well as perfectly just.

Nor was there any one more pious than he ( M. Q.

16b ; Ex.

Rashi 30: 12 ); for when he ascended the throne he was as pure as a child, and had never committed sin ( Yoma 22b ).

He was marvelously handsome ; and the maidens who told him concerning Samuel ( cf 1 Samuel 9: 11-13 ) talked so long with him that they might observe his beauty the more ( Ber.

48b ).

In war he was able to march 120 miles without rest.

When he received the command to smite Amalek ( 1 Samuel 15: 3 ), Saul said: For one found slain the Torah requires a sin offering 21: 1-9 ; and here so many shall be slain.

If the old have sinned, why should the young suffer ; and if men have been guilty, why should the cattle be destroyed?

It was this mildness that cost him his crown.

And while Saul was merciful to his enemies, he was strict with his own people ; when he found out that Avimelech, a kohen, had assisted David with finding food, Saul, in retaliation, killed the rest of the 85 kohanim of the family of Avimelech and the rest of his hometown, Nov. ( Yoma 22b ; Num.

Rashi 1: 10 ) The fact that he was merciful even to his enemies, being indulgent to rebels themselves, and frequently waiving the homage due to him, was incredible as well as deceiving.

But if his mercy toward a foe was a sin, it was his only one ; and it was his misfortune that it was reckoned against him, while David, although he had committed much iniquity, was so favored that it was not remembered to his injury ( Yoma 22b ; M. Q.

16b, and Rashi ad loc .).

In some respects Saul was superior to David, e. g., in having only one concubine