Purim: Redeeming King Shaul's House

(1) Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over His people Israel. Therefore, listen to the LORD’s command!

(2) “Thus said the LORD of Hosts: I am exacting the penalty for what Amalek did to Israel, for the assault he made upon them on the road, on their way up from Egypt.

(3) Now go, attack Amalek, and proscribeaSee note at Josh. 6.18. all that belongs to him. Spare no one, but kill alike men and women, infants and sucklings, oxen and sheep, camels and asses!”

(4) Saul mustered the troops and enrolled them at Telaim: 200,000 men on foot, and 10,000 men of Judah.

(5) Then Saul advanced as far as the city of Amalek and bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.lay in wait-b in the wadi.

(6) Saul said to the Kenites, “Come, withdraw at once from among the Amalekites, that I may not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they left Egypt.” So the Kenites withdrew from among the Amalekites.

(7) Saul destroyed Amalek from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is close to Egypt,

(8) and he captured King Agag of Amalek alive. He proscribed all the people, putting them to the sword;

(9) but Saul and the troops spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the second-born,cTargum and Syriac read “fatlings.” the lambs, and all else that was of value. They would not proscribe them; they proscribed only bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.what was cheap and worthless.-b

(10) The word of the LORD then came to Samuel:

(11) “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from Me and has not carried out My commands.” Samuel was distressed and he entreated the LORD all night long.

(12) Early in the morning Samuel went to meet Saul. Samuel was told, “Saul went to Carmel, where he erected a monument for himself; then he left and went on down to Gilgal.”

(13) When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have fulfilled the LORD’s command.”

(14) “Then what,” demanded Samuel, “is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of oxen that I hear?”

(15) Saul answered, “They were brought from the Amalekites, for the troops spared the choicest of the sheep and oxen for sacrificing to the LORD your God. And we proscribed the rest.”

(16) Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night!” “Speak,” he replied.

(17) And Samuel said, “You may look small to yourself, but you are the head of the tribes of Israel. The LORD anointed you king over Israel,

(18) and the LORD sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and proscribe the sinful Amalekites; make war on them until you have exterminated them.’

(19) Why did you disobey the LORD and swoop down on the spoil dLit. “and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”in defiance of the LORD’s will?”-d

(20) Saul said to Samuel, “But I did obey the LORD! I performed the mission on which the LORD sent me: I captured King Agag of Amalek, and I proscribed Amalek,

(21) and the troops took from the spoil some sheep and oxen—the best of what had been proscribed—to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

(22) But Samuel said:
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As much as in obedience to the LORD’s command?
Surely, obedience is better than sacrifice,
Compliance than the fat of rams.

(23) For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
Defiance, like the iniquity of teraphim.eIdols consulted for oracles; see Ezek. 21.26; Zech. 10.2.
Because you rejected the LORD’s command,
He has rejected you as king.”

(24) Saul said to Samuel, “I did wrong to transgress the LORD’s command and your instructions; but I was afraid of the troops and I yielded to them.

(25) Please, forgive my offense and come back with me, and I will bow low to the LORD.”

(26) But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you; for you have rejected the LORD’s command, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel.”

(27) As Samuel turned to leave, Saul seized the corner of his robe, and it tore.

(28) And Samuel said to him, “The LORD has this day torn the kingship over Israel away from you and has given it to another who is worthier than you.

(29) Moreover, the GlorybMeaning of Heb. uncertain. of Israel does not deceive or change His mind, for He is not human that He should change His mind.”

(30) But [Saul] pleaded, “I did wrong. Please, honor me in the presence of the elders of my people and in the presence of Israel, and come back with me until I have bowed low to the LORD your God.”

(31) So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul bowed low to the LORD.

(32) Samuel said, “Bring forward to me King Agag of Amalek.” Agag approached him fFrom root ma‘ad, “to falter”; cf. Septuagint.with faltering steps;-f and Agag said, “Ah, bitter death is at hand!”bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.

(33) Samuel said:
“As your sword has bereaved women,
So shall your mother be bereaved among women.”
And Samuel bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.cut Agag down-b before the LORD at Gilgal.

(34) Samuel then departed for Ramah, and Saul went up to his home at Gibeah of Saul.

(5) In the fortress Shushan lived a Jew by the name of Mordecai, son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, a Benjaminite. (6) [Kish] had been exiled from Jerusalem in the group that was carried into exile along with King Jeconiah of Judah, which had been driven into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. (7) He was foster father to Hadassah—that is, Esther—his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was shapely and beautiful; and when her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.

the responsibility of Judah, as David did not kill Shimei, although he was liable to the death penalty. The grave consequences of this failure included that Mordecai was born from him, and it was he against whom Haman was jealous, leading Haman to issue a decree against all of the Jewish people. And how a Benjamite has repaid me is referring to the fact that Saul, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, did not kill the Amalekite king Agag immediately, from whom Haman was later born, and he caused suffering to the Jewish people.

(1) BENJAMIN. Jacob compared Benjamin to a wolf because Benjamin was mighty. The men of Gibeah are proof of this.188At Gibeah 26,700 Benjamites defeated an army of 400,000 Israelites. Cf. Jud. 20. (2) THE PREY. Ad (the prey) has the same meaning as the Aramaic word for spoil (ada).189Reading kemo targum shelal as in Vat. Ebr. 38 rather than targum shalal as in the printed manuscripts. Also cf. Kimchi’s commentary on Is. 33:23. Similarly, ad in Then is the prey (ad) of a great spoil divided (Is. 33:23) and in Until the day that I rise up to the prey (ad) (Zeph. 3:8); and iddim (a polluted garment) (Is. 64:5).190I.E. on Is. 64:5 notes that a garment taken in spoil is polluted by blood. He points out that iddim and ed are similar. I.E. interprets ed (prey) to mean spoil.. (3) [AND AT EVEN HE DIVIDETH.] At even he divideth among his children the prey that he has taken as spoil. Joshua says191A Karaite scholar. that our verse alludes to King Saul who defeated the Amalekites.192Thus Saul is likened to a wolf who takes spoil. Saul defeated the Amalekites and despoiled them. Cf. I Sam. 15. He explains In the morning as alluding to the beginning of Israel’s kingdom193At the beginning of Israel’s kingdom Saul, who came from the tribe of Benjamin, despoiled Amalek. In exile, Mordecai the Benjamite despoiled Haman who was an Amalekite. Cf. Es. 8:1,2, On that day did king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman…unto Esther the queen…And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. and at even as referring to the period of Israel’s exile with regard to Mordecai. However, this interpretation is the way of the Midrash.194Cf. Bereshit Rabbah 99:3 and Tanchuma 1:14; 2:15. It is hard to understand why I.E. quotes this interpretation in the name of a Karaite when it is found in the Midrash. Onkelos’ interpretation of our verse is well known.195Onkelos explains the “spoil” as referring to the portions which the priests received from sacrifices offered in the temple which was erected in the territory of Benjamin.

(2) “For the Lord God will not do anything, [unless He has revealed His secret to His servants the prophets]” (Amos 3:7) – Jacob paired two with two, and Moses paired two with two.6They paired two of the tribes against two of the kingdoms that will conquer Israel. Judah opposite the kingdom of Babylon – this one was likened to a lion and that one was likened to a lion. This one was likened to a lion: “Judah is a lion cub” (Genesis 49:9); and that one was likened to a lion: “The first was like a lion” (Daniel 7:4). Into the hands of whom would the kingdom of Babylon fall? Into the hands of Daniel, who descended from Judah.
Benjamin opposite the kingdom of Media – this one was likened to a wolf, and that one was likened to a wolf. This one was likened to a wolf: “Benjamin is a wolf that mauls” (Genesis 49:27); and that one was likened to a wolf: “Behold another, a second beast, resembling a bear [ledov]” (Daniel 7:5) – Rabbi Ḥanina said: Ledov is written, but it was called dev.7The word dov, bear, is sometimes written with a vav. In this instance it is written without a vav, such that it can be read dev, which is Aramaic for ze’ev, wolf. Thus, the midrash is saying that Media is compared to a wolf. This is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “Therefore, a lion from the forest smote them” (Jeremiah 5:6) – this is Babylon; “a wolf of the deserts will plunder them” (Jeremiah 5:6) – this is Media. Into the hands of whom did the kingdom of Media fall? Into the hands of Mordekhai, who descended from Benjamin.
Levi opposite the kingdom of Greece – this one is the third tribe, and that one is the third kingdom.8The third of the four kingdoms in the vision of Daniel (Daniel, ch. 7). This one has three letters, and that one has three letters.9Levi and Greece [Yavan] are each spelled with three letters in Hebrew. These sound horns,10The priests, from the tribe of Levi, would sound the shofar when sacrificing offerings. and those sound trumpets.11The Greeks would sound trumpets when going out to war. These wear hats,12The reference is to the headdresses that were part of the priestly vestments. and those wear helmets. These wear trousers, and those wear knee breeches. Those13The Greeks are many in number, and these are few in number. The many came and fell into the hand of the few. By what merit? It was due to the blessing of Moses, who said: “Crush the loins of those who rise against him” (Deuteronomy 33:11). Into whose hands did the kingdom of Greece fall? Into the hands of the Hasmoneans, who were from Levi.
Joseph opposite the kingdom of Edom – this one has horns, and that one has horns. This one has horns – “the firstborn bull is his majesty” (Deuteronomy 33:17); and that one has horns – “and concerning the ten horns that were on its head” (Daniel 7:20). This one forsook licentiousness, and that one cleaves to licentiousness. This one was scrupulous regarding his father’s honor, and that one demeaned his father’s honor.14Joseph heeded his father and went to check on his brothers even though he knew they hated him (Genesis 37:13–14). The nation of Edom descends from Esau, who said: “The days of mourning for my father will approach, and I will kill my brother Jacob” (Genesis 27:41). Thus, Esau was looking forward to his father dying so that he could kill Jacob. Of this one it is stated: “I fear God” (Genesis 42:18); of that one it is stated: “And he did not fear God” (Deuteronomy 25:18).15This is stated in reference to Amalek, who descended from Esau. Into whose hands will the kingdom [of Edom] fall? Into the hands of the one anointed for war, who comes from Joseph.16The messiah, son of Joseph. Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: There is a tradition that Esau will fall only into the hands of Rachel’s descendants. That is what is written: “[Therefore, hear the schemes of the Lord that He has devised against Edom…] will the young of the flock not drag them?” (Jeremiah 49:20). Why does he call them the young of the flock? Because they are the youngest of the tribes.

(3) “Benjamin is a wolf that mauls; in the morning he devours prey, and in the evening he divides spoils” (Genesis 49:27).
“Benjamin is a wolf that mauls” – this is referring to his judges. Just as the wolf snatches, so Ehud snatched Eglon’s heart. That is what is written: “Ehud came to him, and he was sitting [alone] in his cool upper chamber” (see Judges 3:20). “He said: [I have] a secret matter…” (Judges 3:19). He said to him: ‘So did the Master of the world say to me: Take a sword and plunge it into your innards.’ “The parshedona emerged” (Judges 3:22) – his excrement. “Ehud emerged into the vestibule [hamisderona]” (Judges 3:23) – Rabbi Yudan said: A portico that obscures the light. Rabbi Berekhya said: There the ministering angels sat in order [mesudarin].
Another matter: It is referring to his kingdom.17Jacob was referring to King Saul, who descended from Benjamin. Just as the wolf snatches, so Saul snatched the kingdom, as it is stated: “Saul secured [lakhad] the kingdom over Israel” (I Samuel 14:47).18Lakhad has the connotation of capturing something that belonged to another, and the tribe of Judah had been granted the right to the kingship (see Etz Yosef). “In the morning19At the beginning of his reign. he devours prey” – “he waged war against all his enemies all around” (I Samuel 14:47). “In the evening he divides spoils” – “Saul died for his trespass that he trespassed [against the Lord]” (I Chronicles 10:13).20Toward the end of his reign, signified by evening, Saul became spoils for his enemies.
It is referring to his kingdom. Just as the wolf snatches, so Esther snatched the kingdom. That is what is written: “Esther was taken [to the king’s palace” (Esther 2:8). “In the morning it devours its prey” – “On that day, King Aḥashverosh gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther” (Esther 8:1). “In the evening he divides spoils” – “Esther appointed Mordekhai over the house of Haman” (Esther 8:2).
It is referring to his land. Just as the wolf snatches, so Benjamin’s land snatches its produce.21The produce grows very quickly there. “In the morning it devours its prey” – this is Jericho, whose produce would ripen first. “In the evening he divides spoils” – this is Beit El, whose produce would ripen last.
Rabbi Pinḥas interprets the verse regarding the altar. Just as the wolf snatches, so the altar snatches the offerings. “In the morning it devours its prey” – “the one lamb you shall offer in the morning” (Numbers 28:4). “In the evening he divides spoils” – “and the second lamb you shall offer in the afternoon” (Numbers 28:4).

(13) Rabbi Berekhya said: The Holy one blessed be He recorded the redemption of Israel in the Torah, as it is written: “If a stranger who is a resident among you shall prosper…” (Leviticus 25:47). “A stranger who is a resident” – that is Haman, who became great and grew rich, and became prosperous enough to weigh out ten thousand talents of silver (see Esther 3:9). He is called a resident stranger since he was a descendant of Amalek and was a stranger in Media and Persia. “And your brother becomes poor with him” (Leviticus 25:47) – these are [the people of] Israel who were destitute and poor. “And is sold to a resident stranger” (Leviticus 25:47) – that Aḥashverosh sold them to Haman, to destroy, to kill and to eliminate. “Or to an offshoot [eker] of a stranger’s family” (Leviticus 25:47) – that he made himself an object of idolatry.11The midrash here follows the interpretation in Kiddushin 20a–b that an eker is a false god. According to that reading, the verse is referring to a Hebrew slave who was sold to serve in an idolatrous temple. That is what is written: “Bowing and prostrating themselves to Haman” (Esther 3:2). “After he is sold, he shall have redemption” (Leviticus 25:48) – that the Holy One blessed be He redeemed them from his [Haman’s] hand and delivered them from his decree and rescued them. “One of his brothers shall redeem him” (Leviticus 25:48) – that is Mordekhai, as it is written about him “and accepted by most of his brethren” (Esther 10:3). “Or his uncle or his cousin shall redeem him” (Leviticus 25:49) – that is Esther, who was the daughter of his [Mordekhai’s] uncle, and Israel were redeemed by her. “For I will surely erase [maḥo emḥeh] the memory of Amalek” (Exodus 17:14) – erase [maḥo] in this world, surely erase [emḥeh] in the World to Come. “The memory [zekher] of Amalek” – that is Haman. Read with regard to him, “a male [zakhar] of Amalek.”
Even Jacob our forefather alluded to it in the blessing of the tribes: “Benjamin, a wolf who will take prey. In the morning he will consume plunder” (Genesis 49:27) – that is Saul, who was the morning of Israel, as he was the first of the kings and was from the tribe of Benjamin, and [he] smote Amalek and plundered everything they had. “And in the evening will distribute booty” (Genesis 49:27) – that is Mordekhai and Esther, who arose for Israel in their exile, which resembles the evening, and distributed the booty of Haman. [Benjamin] is compared to a wolf, as the Holy One blessed be He set him to stand against the wolf – that is the kings of Media and Persia, who are compared to a wolf. That is what is written, “And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a wolf”12The word in the verse, dov, is generally translated “bear.” However, when it is spelled without a vav, its meaning in Aramaic is “wolf.” In the verse from Daniel, which is written in Aramaic, dov is spelled without a vav (Etz Yosef). (Daniel 7:5). There13The midrash, written in Eretz Yisrael, refers here to the interpretation of the Babylonian sages, who understood the term dov in this verse as referring to a bear (see Megilla 11a; Kiddushin 72a; Avoda Zara 2b). they say that [the verse refers to] the kings of Media and Persia, who eat like a bear and have no rest like a bear and grow their hair like a bear. The Holy One blessed be He set Mordekhai and Esther to stand against them, as they were from the tribe of Benjamin, as it is written: “A wolf will take prey” (Genesis 49:27).

(2) Another interpretation (of Gen. 49:27): BENJAMIN IS A RAVENOUS WOLF…. < The verse > speaks about Saul. (Ibid., cont.:) IN THE MORNING HE DEVOURS THE PREY. (Cf. I Sam. 14:47-48): AFTER SAUL HAD SEIZED THE KINGSHIP OVER ISRAEL …74I.e., in the morning of his reign. HE WAS TRIUMPHANT IN SMITING THE AMALEKITES. (Gen. 49:27, cont.:) AND AT EVENING HE DIVIDES THE SPOIL. (Cf. I Sam. 31:6:) SO SAUL DIED ALONG WITH THREE OF HIS SONS.

(3) Another interpretation (of Gen. 49:27): BENJAMIN IS A RAVENOUS WOLF. < The verse > speaks about Queen Esther. (Ibid., cont.:) IN THE MORNING HE DEVOURS THE PREY. (Cf. Esth. 7:1:) SO THE KING AND HAMAN CAME TO FEAST < WITH QUEEN ESTHER >. (Gen. 49:27, cont.:) AND AT EVENING HE DIVIDES THE SPOIL. (Cf. Esth. 8:1:) ON THAT DAY AHASUERUS GAVE QUEEN ESTHER < THE HOUSE OF HAMAN >….

(5) He pitted Benjamin against the kingdom of Media. And thus Mordecai, who was of the tribe of Benjamin, exacted retribution from it. It is written: And behold, another beast, a second, like to a wolf (Dan. 7:5). This alludes to the kingdom of Media, which He turned against the tribe of Benjamin, which is also compared to a wolf, as it is said: Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth (Gen. 49:27). What is the meaning of a wolf that raveneth? Just as a wolf seizes its prey, so the tribe of Benjamin seized its prey, as it is said: And see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife (Judg. 21:21). Hence, just as a wolf seizes its prey hungrily, so too did the tribe of Benjamin.

(3) aThe rest of this chapter would read well after chapters 29 and 30.Now Samuel had died and all Israel made lament for him; and he was buried in his own town of Ramah. And Saul had forbidden [recourse to] ghosts and familiar spirits in the land.

(4) The Philistines mustered and they marched to Shunem and encamped; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.

(5) When Saul saw the Philistine force, his heart trembled with fear.

(6) And Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by UrimbA kind of oracle; see note at Exod. 28.30 and 1 Sam. 14.41. or by prophets.

(7) Then Saul said to his courtiers, “Find me a woman who consults ghosts, so that I can go to her and inquire through her.” And his courtiers told him that there was a woman in En-dor who consulted ghosts.