Saul

Saul belonged to a poor family of a tribe of Benjamin, which inhabited the valley of Zophim, near Bethlehem. He was a very smart and tall person. Once when he was searching for the lost ponies of his father, he met Samuel. Samuel embraced him, anointed his head with holy oil, kissed his forehead and blessed him saying;

“Lord has anointed thee to be the captain over His inheritance.”

            Samuel had two sons Joel and Abiah, they both were appointed judges but greed strayed them from the right path of justice and they misjudged for gratifications.

            In those times, Goliath ruled Amalek, a city existing between Egypt and Palestine. He was a cruel ruler who had subjugated people and disgraced their chiefs.

Chiefs of Israel came to Samuel and demanded to appoint a king for them. Samuel knowing their inconsistent nature advised them to forego this idea. But, when they insisted, he’s appointing Saul as their king. Israelites objected that he belonged to poor and lower family he had never been in power so he cannot be the captain. Samuel told them that God had blessed Saul, he as been granted knowledge, Wisdom and power.

Breech of promise:

“Didn’t you see the chiefs of the children of Israel after, Moses? They came to a Prophet among them, "Appoint for us a king, that we may fight in the cause of God. "He said, “Is it not; King, that we may fight possible, if ye were commanded to fight, that you will not fight? "  They said, “ How could we refuse to fight in the cause of God seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?” But when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them. But God has full knowledge of those who do wrong. ”

 “Their prophet said to them, “God has appointed Saul as I king over you.” They said, “How can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to exercise authority. And, he is not even gifted with wealth in abundance? ” He said, “God has chosen him above you and has gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess; God grants His authority to whom He pleases. God cares for all, and He knows all things. "

“And further their prophet said to them, “A sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the Covenant, with an assurance therein of security from your Lord. And the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried by angels. In this is a symbol for you indeed have faith. "

(Quran S: 2, V: 246-8) '

The Ark of Covenant, as called by the Israelites was a box containing the original manuscript of Torah, which was penned down under Moses personal supervision. Besides that it also contained those tablets that were granted to Moses on Mount Siena. That Box also had Moses’ Staff, Aaron’s Rob and the heavenly meal ‘Mama’. 

The Ashdodi’s had taken that Ark and had placed it in the temple of their greatest idol Dagon. When early in the morning the people gathered there to worship that idol, they saw the idol is lying on the ground. They erected it back. Then it started to happen daily. Once the priests saw Dagon falling apart for no reason. This scared them all. After a few days, plague seized the people and they started dying. Priests held a meeting amongst them and decided to send the Ark of relics to the city of Gath from the temple of Dagon. The effects of the Ark persisted even when it was sent to Akroon city, which was also affected by plague and thousands of people died. The priests once again assembled and decided to return that Ark to Israelites. So they placed that Ark on a bullock cart and ushered it towards Israel. The cart halted in the fields of Saul. The Ark of Covenant thus came back to Israelites after remaining in the custody of the enemies.

Ashdodis of Palestine and the forces of Amalek jointly started preparation to attack Israel once again. In order to defend the attack, Saul advanced with his army. Chiefs of Israel accepting him to be there king consented to fight in the cause of God and an army of 70-80 thousand men started to advance for the battle.

God commanded Saul to test the faith of his companions. Saul ordered that nobody would drink water from the rivers on the way to battlefield and most of them disobeyed him. Except those who had observed the orders of the king, lips of those, who had disobeyed, turned black and they felt thirsty more than ever before, which further aggravated the situation. Only a small contingent could gather after crossing the river. Israelites refused to fight on the pretext of weariness and exhaustion. Saul encouraged them and instructed, then to have faith in God’s Powers instead of depending upon the number of army and the armors.

When Saul set forth with the armies, he said, “God will test you at stream, if any drinks of its water, he goes not with my army, only those who taste not of it go with me; a mere sip out of the hand is excused, ” But they all drank of it except a few. When they crossed the river, he and the faithful ones with him, they said, this day we cannot cope with Goliath and his forces." But those who were convinced that they must meet God, said ‘How oft, by God’s Will have a small force vanquished a big one? God is with those who steadfastly persevere.”

(S: 2, V: 249)

Saul prayed to God saying, “Our Lord pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm help us against those that reject faith."

            Goliath, the general of the enemy forces, was a very tall and strongly built person. He came out with great pomp and show and challenged to combat. Israelites felt impressed and nobody came out to answer his challenge. Saul ordered David to come forward and meet him for the combat. David, who was only a young lad at that time, came forward and killed him. This demoralized the enemy and Israelites were victorious.

“By God ’s will they routed them and David slew Goliath, and God gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever else He willed.”

(S: 2, V: 251)

Israel won many battles during the reign of Saul and emerged as a victorious nation and foundations of the great Israeli nation were laid. He remained the king of Israel quite for some time and he strived to reform the Israelites’ religious, social and cultural norms. He preached the teachings of Moses. After the demise of Saul, David became the king of Israel.

Points to Note:

Plague is caused because of Yersinia Pestis; a type of bacteria, which is found in rats and is carried to humans through lice living on rats. When the louse of rat bites a human being, the germs of this disease are injected into the human blood stream causing plague. The food contaminated with mouse saliva or the body wastes can also cause this disease. Fever, headache, pain in body and joints and palpitation are the main symptoms of this disease. Plague grips the body rapidly. Glands of throat, armpits and groins start swelling and become boils, from which blood and puss oozes. When the sickness attacks the lungs area it causes pneumonia. Face, lips and extremities turn blue. Patient starts bleeding through the pores of the body. Patient faints and dies in two to five days.

            In black plague, spots and patches of black color appear on the skin, which are filled with puss and the skin of that area withers away.

The particular thing that has been mentioned in the story of Saul is that angels carried the Ark containing the relics of Moses and Aaron to Israel. Ashdodis kept that Ark in their Temple. In the night the statue of Dagon felled down on its face. Priests restored it in its place. Then it again fell; its head and fingers broke away. The epidemic of plague gripped the city. They sent the Ark to other cities. But wherever the Ark was sent plague followed it so much so that Ashdodis were forced to return the Ark to Israelites. The cart carrying the Ark came to that field which was owned by Saul.

            Saul said to his people, "How oft, by God ’s Will have a small force vanquished a big one? God is with those who steadfastly persevere."

(S: 2, V: 249)

Saul, who was from a poor family, because of his wisdom, knowledge and by the grace of God laid the foundations of a grand empire of Israel and ruled successfully for long period of time.

“By God ’s will they routed them and David slew Goliath, and God gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever else He willed.”

(S: 2, v: 251)