Word Play on Saul and David in 1 Samuel

Why does Saul appear to not know who David

is in 1 Samuel 17:55-58?

Word play on 

ראה

Word play on 

ראה

1 Samuel 15:35

And Samuel did not 

see

 Saul again

until the day of his death,

but Samuel grieved over Saul.

And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king

over Israel.

וַ

יֹּ֙

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֜

ה

אֶ

ל

־

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

עַ

ד

־

מָ

תַ

י֙

אַ

תָּ

ה֙

מִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֣

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֔

וּ

ל

וַ

אֲ

נִ֣

י

מְ

אַ

סְ

תִּ֔

י

ו

מִ

מְּ

לֹ֖

ךְ

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֑

ל

מַ

לֵּ֙

א

קַ

רְ

נְ

ךָ֜

שֶׁ֗

מֶ

ן

וְ

לֵ֤

ךְ

אֶֽ

שְׁ

לָ

חֲ

ךָ֙

אֶ

ל

־

יִ

שַׁ֣

י

בֵּֽ

י

ת

־

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ֔

י

כִּֽ

י

־

רָ

אִ֧

י

תִ

י

בְּ

בָ

נָ֛

י

ו

לִ֖

י

מֶֽ

לֶ

ךְ

׃

1 Samuel 16:1

The LORD said to Samuel,

"How long will you grieve over Saul,

since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil, and go.

I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite,

for I have 

provided

 for myself a king among his sons.”

וְ

לֹ

א

־

יָ

סַ֙

ף

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֜

ל

לִ

רְ

א֤

וֹ

ת

אֶ

ת

־

שָׁ

א

וּ

ל֙

עַ

ד

־

י֣

וֹ

ם

מ

וֹ

ת֔

וֹ

כִּֽ

י

־

הִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֥

ל

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֖

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֑

וּ

ל

וַ

י

ה

וָ֣

ה

נִ

חָ֔

ם

כִּֽ

י

־

הִ

מְ

לִ֥

י

ךְ

אֶ

ת

־

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵֽ

ל

׃

פ

Word play on 

ראה

Genesis 22:8

Abraham said,

"God will 

provide

 for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son."

So they went both of them together.

וַ֙

יֹּ

א

מֶ

ר֙

אַ

בְ

רָ

הָ֔

ם

אֱ

לֹ

הִ֞

י

ם

יִ

רְ

אֶ

ה

־

לּ֥

וֹ

הַ

שֶּׂ֛

ה

לְ

עֹ

לָ֖

ה

בְּ

נִ֑

י

וַ

יֵּ

לְ

כ֥

וּ

שְׁ

נֵ

י

הֶ֖

ם

יַ

חְ

דָּֽ

ו

׃

Genesis 22:14

So Abraham called the name of that place,

"The LORD will 

provide

";

as it is said to this day,

"On the mount of the LORD it shall be 

provided

."

וַ

יִּ

קְ

רָ֧

א

אַ

בְ

רָ

הָ֛

ם

שֵֽׁ

ם

־

הַ

מָּ

ק֥

וֹ

ם

הַ

ה֖

וּ

א

יְ

ה

וָ֣

ה

׀

יִ

רְ

אֶ֑

ה

אֲ

שֶׁ

ר֙

יֵ

אָ

מֵ֣

ר

הַ

יּ֔

וֹ

ם

בְּ

הַ֥

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֖

ה

יֵ

רָ

אֶֽ

ה

׃

Word play on 

ראה

1 Samuel 15:35

And Samuel did not 

see

 Saul again

until the day of his death,

but Samuel grieved over Saul.

And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king

over Israel.

וַ

יֹּ֙

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֜

ה

אֶ

ל

־

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

עַ

ד

־

מָ

תַ

י֙

אַ

תָּ

ה֙

מִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֣

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֔

וּ

ל

וַ

אֲ

נִ֣

י

מְ

אַ

סְ

תִּ֔

י

ו

מִ

מְּ

לֹ֖

ךְ

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֑

ל

מַ

לֵּ֙

א

קַ

רְ

נְ

ךָ֜

שֶׁ֗

מֶ

ן

וְ

לֵ֤

ךְ

אֶֽ

שְׁ

לָ

חֲ

ךָ֙

אֶ

ל

־

יִ

שַׁ֣

י

בֵּֽ

י

ת

־

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ֔

י

כִּֽ

י

־

רָ

אִ֧

י

תִ

י

בְּ

בָ

נָ֛

י

ו

לִ֖

י

מֶֽ

לֶ

ךְ

׃

1 Samuel 16:1

The LORD said to Samuel,

"How long will you grieve over Saul,

since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil, and go.

I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite,

for I have 

provided

 for myself a king among his sons.”

וְ

לֹ

א

־

יָ

סַ֙

ף

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֜

ל

לִ

רְ

א֤

וֹ

ת

אֶ

ת

־

שָׁ

א

וּ

ל֙

עַ

ד

־

י֣

וֹ

ם

מ

וֹ

ת֔

וֹ

כִּֽ

י

־

הִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֥

ל

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֖

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֑

וּ

ל

וַ

י

ה

וָ֣

ה

נִ

חָ֔

ם

כִּֽ

י

־

הִ

מְ

לִ֥

י

ךְ

אֶ

ת

־

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵֽ

ל

׃

פ

•

Samuel is grieving over Saul.

•

God will provide (“see for himself”) a new king.

How will God choose this new king?

Word play on 

ראה

16:6

When they came, he 

looked

 on Eliab

and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before him."

וַ

יֹּ֙

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֜

ה

אֶ

ל

־

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

אַ

ל

־

תַּ

בֵּ֧

ט

אֶ

ל

־

מַ

רְ

אֵ֛

ה

וּ

וְ

אֶ

ל

־

גְּ

בֹ֥

הַּ

ק

וֹ

מָ

ת֖

וֹ

כִּ֣

י

מְ

אַ

סְ

תִּ֑

י

ה

וּ

כִּ֣

י

׀

לֹ֗

א

אֲ

שֶׁ֤

ר

יִ

רְ

אֶ

ה֙

הָ

אָ

דָ֔

ם

כִּ֤

י

הָֽ

אָ

דָ

ם֙

יִ

רְ

אֶ֣

ה

לַ

עֵ

י

נַ֔

יִ

ם

וַ

י

ה

וָ֖

ה

יִ

רְ

אֶ֥

ה

לַ

לֵּ

בָֽ

ב

׃

16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel,

"Do not 

look

 on his 

appearance

 or on the height of his stature,

because I have rejected him.

For the LORD 

sees

 not as man sees:

man 

looks

 on the outward appearance,

but the LORD 

looks

 on the heart."

וַ

יְ

הִ֣

י

בְּ

ב

וֹ

אָ֔

ם

וַ

יַּ֖

רְ

א

אֶ

ת

־

אֱ

לִ

י

אָ֑

ב

וַ

יֹּ֕

א

מֶ

ר

אַ֛

ךְ

נֶ֥

גֶ

ד

יְ

ה

וָ֖

ה

מְ

שִׁ

י

חֽ

וֹ

׃

•

Samuel does some looking but does he see correctly?

•

Samuel sees the outward appearance.

•

God sees the heart.

Word play on 

ראה

16:13

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers.

And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.

And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

16:14

Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul,

and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.

16:15-16

And Saul's servants said to him,

"Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your

servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when

the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well."

•

Who is seeing to the heart of the matter here?

Word play on 

ראה

16:13

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers.

And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.

And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

16:14

Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul,

and 

a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him

.

16:15-16

And Saul's servants said to him,

"Behold now, 

a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you

. Let our lord now command

your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and

when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well."

•

Saul’s servants don’t just see appearances.

•

Surprisingly, they know what the narrator has told us.

They see the heart of the matter, so to speak.

Word play on 

ראה

16:17

So Saul said to his servants,

"

Provide

 for me a man who can play well

and bring him to me."

וַ

יֹּ֥

א

מֶ

ר

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

אֶ

ל

־

עֲ

בָ

דָ֑

י

ו

רְ

א

וּ

־

נָ֣

א

לִ֗

י

אִ֚

י

שׁ

מֵ

י

טִ֣

י

ב

לְ

נַ

גֵּ֔

ן

וַ

הֲ

בִ

י

א

וֹ

תֶ֖

ם

אֵ

לָֽ

י

׃

•

Who else was going to “provide” a man for himself?

Word play on 

ראה

16:17

So Saul said to his servants,

"

Provide

 for me a man who can play well

and bring him to me."

וַ

יֹּ֥

א

מֶ

ר

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

אֶ

ל

־

עֲ

בָ

דָ֑

י

ו

רְ

א

וּ

־

נָ֣

א

לִ֗

י

אִ֚

י

שׁ

מֵ

י

טִ֣

י

ב

לְ

נַ

גֵּ֔

ן

וַ

הֲ

בִ

י

א

וֹ

תֶ֖

ם

אֵ

לָֽ

י

׃

•

Who else was going to “provide” a man for himself?

וַ

יֹּ֙

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֜

ה

אֶ

ל

־

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

עַ

ד

־

מָ

תַ

י֙

אַ

תָּ

ה֙

מִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֣

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֔

וּ

ל

וַ

אֲ

נִ֣

י

מְ

אַ

סְ

תִּ֔

י

ו

מִ

מְּ

לֹ֖

ךְ

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֑

ל

מַ

לֵּ֙

א

קַ

רְ

נְ

ךָ֜

שֶׁ֗

מֶ

ן

וְ

לֵ֤

ךְ

אֶֽ

שְׁ

לָ

חֲ

ךָ֙

אֶ

ל

־

יִ

שַׁ֣

י

בֵּֽ

י

ת

־

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ֔

י

כִּֽ

י

־

רָ

אִ֧

י

תִ

י

בְּ

בָ

נָ֛

י

ו

לִ֖

י

מֶֽ

לֶ

ךְ

׃

1 Samuel 16:1

The LORD said to Samuel,

"How long will you grieve over Saul,

since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil, and go.

I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite,

for I have 

provided

 for myself a king among his sons.”

Word play on 

ראה

16:17

So Saul said to his servants,

"

Provide

 for me a man who can play well

and bring him to me."

וַ

יֹּ֥

א

מֶ

ר

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

אֶ

ל

־

עֲ

בָ

דָ֑

י

ו

רְ

א

וּ

־

נָ֣

א

לִ֗

י

אִ֚

י

שׁ

מֵ

י

טִ֣

י

ב

לְ

נַ

גֵּ֔

ן

וַ

הֲ

בִ

י

א

וֹ

תֶ֖

ם

אֵ

לָֽ

י

׃

וַ

יֹּ֙

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֜

ה

אֶ

ל

־

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

עַ

ד

־

מָ

תַ

י֙

אַ

תָּ

ה֙

מִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֣

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֔

וּ

ל

וַ

אֲ

נִ֣

י

מְ

אַ

סְ

תִּ֔

י

ו

מִ

מְּ

לֹ֖

ךְ

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֑

ל

מַ

לֵּ֙

א

קַ

רְ

נְ

ךָ֜

שֶׁ֗

מֶ

ן

וְ

לֵ֤

ךְ

אֶֽ

שְׁ

לָ

חֲ

ךָ֙

אֶ

ל

־

יִ

שַׁ֣

י

בֵּֽ

י

ת

־

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ֔

י

כִּֽ

י

־

רָ

אִ֧

י

תִ

י

בְּ

בָ

נָ֛

י

ו

לִ֖

י

מֶֽ

לֶ

ךְ

׃

1 Samuel 16:1

The LORD said to Samuel,

"How long will you grieve over Saul,

since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil, and go.

I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite,

for I have 

provided

 for myself a king among his sons.”

•

Both YHWH and Saul choose David but with very different insight.

•

YHWH has chosen David as the next king.

•

Saul will end up choosing a man for his inner court, not knowing that that man is God’s chosen to replace him.

•

Who else was going to “provide” a man for himself?

Word play on 

ראה

16:17

So Saul said to his servants,

"

Provide

 for me a man who can play well

and bring him to me."

וַ

יֹּ֥

א

מֶ

ר

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

אֶ

ל

־

עֲ

בָ

דָ֑

י

ו

רְ

א

וּ

־

נָ֣

א

לִ֗

י

אִ֚

י

שׁ

מֵ

י

טִ֣

י

ב

לְ

נַ

גֵּ֔

ן

וַ

הֲ

בִ

י

א

וֹ

תֶ֖

ם

אֵ

לָֽ

י

׃

•

How will Saul’s servants answer?

•

How will they see? By mere appearances?

Word play on 

ראה

16:17

So Saul said to his servants,

"

Provide

 for me a man who can play well

and bring him to me."

וַ

יֹּ֥

א

מֶ

ר

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

אֶ

ל

־

עֲ

בָ

דָ֑

י

ו

רְ

א

וּ

־

נָ֣

א

לִ֗

י

אִ֚

י

שׁ

מֵ

י

טִ֣

י

ב

לְ

נַ

גֵּ֔

ן

וַ

הֲ

בִ

י

א

וֹ

תֶ֖

ם

אֵ

לָֽ

י

׃

•

How will Saul’s servants answer?

•

How will they see? By mere appearances?

16:18

One of the young men answered,

"Behold, I have 

seen

 a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite,

who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war,

prudent in speech, and a man of good presence,

and the LORD is with him."

וַ

יַּ

עַ

ן֩

אֶ

חָ֙

ד

מֵ

הַ

נְּ

עָ

רִ֜

י

ם

וַ

יֹּ֗

א

מֶ

ר

הִ

נֵּ֙

ה

רָ

אִ֜

י

תִ

י

בֵּ֣

ן

לְ

יִ

שַׁ

י֮

בֵּ֣

י

ת

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ

י֒

יֹ

דֵ֣

עַ

נַ֠

גֵּ

ן

וְ

גִ

בּ֙

וֹ

ר

חַ֜

יִ

ל

וְ

אִ֧

י

שׁ

מִ

לְ

חָ

מָ֛

ה

וּ

נְ

ב֥

וֹ

ן

דָּ

בָ֖

ר

וְ

אִ֣

י

שׁ

תֹּ֑

אַ

ר

וַ

י

ה

וָ֖

ה

עִ

מּֽ

וֹ

׃

Word play on 

ראה

16:17

So Saul said to his servants,

"

Provide

 for me a man who can play well

and bring him to me."

וַ

יֹּ֥

א

מֶ

ר

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

אֶ

ל

־

עֲ

בָ

דָ֑

י

ו

רְ

א

וּ

־

נָ֣

א

לִ֗

י

אִ֚

י

שׁ

מֵ

י

טִ֣

י

ב

לְ

נַ

גֵּ֔

ן

וַ

הֲ

בִ

י

א

וֹ

תֶ֖

ם

אֵ

לָֽ

י

׃

•

How will Saul’s servants answer?

•

How will they see? By mere appearances?

16:18

One of the young men answered,

"Behold, I have 

seen

 a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite,

who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war,

prudent in speech, and a man of good presence,

and 

the LORD is with him

."

וַ

יַּ

עַ

ן֩

אֶ

חָ֙

ד

מֵ

הַ

נְּ

עָ

רִ֜

י

ם

וַ

יֹּ֗

א

מֶ

ר

הִ

נֵּ֙

ה

רָ

אִ֜

י

תִ

י

בֵּ֣

ן

לְ

יִ

שַׁ

י֮

בֵּ֣

י

ת

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ

י֒

יֹ

דֵ֣

עַ

נַ֠

גֵּ

ן

וְ

גִ

בּ֙

וֹ

ר

חַ֜

יִ

ל

וְ

אִ֧

י

שׁ

מִ

לְ

חָ

מָ֛

ה

וּ

נְ

ב֥

וֹ

ן

דָּ

בָ֖

ר

וְ

אִ֣

י

שׁ

תֹּ֑

אַ

ר

וַ

י

ה

וָ֖

ה

עִ

מּֽ

וֹ

׃

•

This servant sees well. Better than Samuel (v 7).

•

Samuel and Saul aren’t seeing the heart.

Word play on 

ראה

17:24

All the men of Israel, when they 

saw

 the man,

fled from him and were much afraid.

וְ

כֹ

ל֙

אִ֣

י

שׁ

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֔

ל

בִּ

רְ

א

וֹ

תָ֖

ם

אֶ

ת

־

הָ

אִ֑

י

שׁ

וַ

יָּ

נֻ֙

ס

וּ֙

מִ

פָּ

נָ֔

י

ו

וַ

יִּֽ

י

רְ

א֖

וּ

מְ

אֹֽ

ד

׃

17:25

And the men of Israel said,

"Have you 

seen

 this man who has come up? Surely he

has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the

man who kills him with great riches and will give him his

daughter and make his father's house free in Israel."

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

׀

אִ֣

י

שׁ

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֗

ל

הַ

רְּ

אִ

י

תֶ

ם֙

הָ

אִ֤

י

שׁ

הָֽ

עֹ

לֶ

ה֙

הַ

זֶּ֔

ה

כִּ֛

י

לְ

חָ

רֵ֥

ף

אֶ

ת

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֖

ל

עֹ

לֶ֑

ה

וְֽ֠

הָ

יָ

ה

הָ

אִ֙

י

שׁ

אֲ

שֶׁ

ר

־

יַ

כֶּ֜

נּ

וּ

יַ

עְ

שְׁ

רֶ֥

נּ

וּ

הַ

מֶּ֣

לֶ

ךְ

׀

עֹ֣

שֶׁ

ר

גָּ

ד֗

וֹ

ל

וְ

אֶ

ת

־

בִּ

תּ

וֹ֙

יִ

תֶּ

ן

־

ל֔

וֹ

וְ

אֵ

ת֙

בֵּ֣

י

ת

אָ

בִ֔

י

ו

יַ

עֲ

שֶׂ֥

ה

חָ

פְ

שִׁ֖

י

בְּ

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵֽ

ל

׃

•

How do the men of Israel see?

•

Do they see as God sees? To the “heart” of the matter?

•

Or do they look merely at appearances?

Word play on 

ראה

17:28

Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the

men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he

said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you

left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your

presumption and the evil of your 

heart

, for you have come

down to 

see

 the battle."

וַ

יִּ

שְׁ

מַ֤

ע

אֱ

לִ

י

אָ

ב֙

אָ

חִ֣

י

ו

הַ

גָּ

ד֔

וֹ

ל

בְּ

דַ

בְּ

ר֖

וֹ

אֶ

ל

־

הָ

אֲ

נָ

שִׁ֑

י

ם

וַ

יִּֽ

חַ

ר

־

אַ

ף֩

אֱ

לִ

י

אָ֙

ב

בְּ

דָ

וִ֜

ד

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

׀

לָ

מָּ

ה

־

זֶּ֣

ה

יָ

רַ֗

דְ

תָּ

וְ

עַ

ל

־

מִ֙

י

נָ

טַ֜

שְׁ

תָּ

מְ

עַ֙

ט

הַ

צֹּ֤

א

ן

הָ

הֵ֙

נָּ

ה֙

בַּ

מִּ

דְ

בָּ֔

ר

אֲ

נִ֧

י

יָ

דַ֣

עְ

תִּ

י

אֶ

ת

־

זְ

דֹ

נְ

ךָ֗

וְ

אֵ

ת֙

רֹ֣

עַ

לְ

בָ

בֶ֔

ךָ

כִּ֗

י

לְ

מַ֛

עַ

ן

רְ

א֥

וֹ

ת

הַ

מִּ

לְ

חָ

מָ֖

ה

יָ

רָֽ

דְ

תָּ

׃

•

Despite what he claims, does Eliab see the heart of David or does he see mere appearances?

Word play on 

ראה

17:42

And when the Philistine looked and 

saw

 David,

he disdained him, for he was but a youth,

ruddy and handsome in appearance.

וַ

יַּ

בֵּ֧

ט

הַ

פְּ

לִ

שְׁ

תִּ֛

י

וַ

יִּ

רְ

אֶ֥

ה

אֶ

ת

־

דָּ

וִ֖

ד

וַ

יִּ

בְ

זֵ֑

ה

וּ

כִּֽ

י

־

הָ

יָ֣

ה

נַ֔

עַ

ר

וְ

אַ

דְ

מֹ

נִ֖

י

עִ

ם

־

יְ

פֵ֥

ה

מַ

רְ

אֶֽ

ה

׃

•

Does Goliath “see” David correctly or does he misjudge him?

Word play on 

ראה

17:51

Then David ran and stood over the Philistine

and took his sword

and drew it out of its sheath

and killed him

and cut off his head with it.

When the Philistines 

saw

 that their champion was dead,

they fled.

וַ

יָּ֣

רָ

ץ

דָּ֠

וִ

ד

וַ

יַּ

עֲ

מֹ֙

ד

אֶ

ל

־

הַ

פְּ

לִ

שְׁ

תִּ֜

י

וַ

יִּ

קַּ֣

ח

אֶ

ת

־

חַ֠

רְ

בּ

וֹ

וַֽ

יִּ

שְׁ

לְ

פָ֤

הּ

מִ

תַּ

עְ

רָ

הּ֙

וַ

יְ

מֹ֣

תְ

תֵ֔

ה

וּ

וַ

יִּ

כְ

רָ

ת

־

בָּ֖

הּ

אֶ

ת

־

רֹ

א

שׁ֑

וֹ

וַ

יִּ

רְ

א֧

וּ

הַ

פְּ

לִ

שְׁ

תִּ֛

י

ם

כִּֽ

י

־

מֵ֥

ת

גִּ

בּ

וֹ

רָ֖

ם

וַ

יָּ

נֻֽ

ס

וּ

׃

•

At this point David’s “hidden” potential becomes evident to all and the Philistines see how they have been

“miss-seeing” him.

Word play on 

ראה

17:55

As soon as Saul 

saw

 David go out against the Philistine,

he said to Abner, the commander of the army,

"Abner, whose son is this youth?"

And Abner said,

"As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

וְ

כִ

רְ

א֙

וֹ

ת

שָׁ

א֜

וּ

ל

אֶ

ת

־

דָּ

וִ֗

ד

יֹ

צֵ

א֙

לִ

קְ

רַ֣

א

ת

הַ

פְּ

לִ

שְׁ

תִּ֔

י

אָ

מַ֗

ר

אֶ

ל

־

אַ

בְ

נֵ

ר֙

שַׂ֣

ר

הַ

צָּ

בָ֔

א

בֶּ

ן

־

מִ

י

־

זֶ֥

ה

הַ

נַּ֖

עַ

ר

אַ

בְ

נֵ֑

ר

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

אַ

בְ

נֵ֔

ר

חֵֽ

י

־

נַ

פְ

שְׁ

ךָ֥

הַ

מֶּ֖

לֶ

ךְ

אִ

ם

־

יָ

דָֽ

עְ

תִּ

י

׃

•

What/How is Saul seeing now?

Word play on 

ראה

17:55

As soon as Saul 

saw

 David go out against the Philistine,

he said to Abner, the commander of the army,

"Abner, whose son is this youth?"

And Abner said,

"As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

וְ

כִ

רְ

א֙

וֹ

ת

שָׁ

א֜

וּ

ל

אֶ

ת

־

דָּ

וִ֗

ד

יֹ

צֵ

א֙

לִ

קְ

רַ֣

א

ת

הַ

פְּ

לִ

שְׁ

תִּ֔

י

אָ

מַ֗

ר

אֶ

ל

־

אַ

בְ

נֵ

ר֙

שַׂ֣

ר

הַ

צָּ

בָ֔

א

בֶּ

ן

־

מִ

י

־

זֶ֥

ה

הַ

נַּ֖

עַ

ר

אַ

בְ

נֵ֑

ר

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

אַ

בְ

נֵ֔

ר

חֵֽ

י

־

נַ

פְ

שְׁ

ךָ֥

הַ

מֶּ֖

לֶ

ךְ

אִ

ם

־

יָ

דָֽ

עְ

תִּ

י

׃

•

What/How is Saul seeing now?

•

David had not defeated Goliath yet but maybe Saul is starting to wonder?

•

Everything may not be as it appears.

•

Who is this youth who’s been in his court? Where did he get such courage?

•

And who is that daddy of his Jesse? Hmm…

•

Abner is like… I donno. The servants picked him!

Word play on 

ראה

18:15

And when Saul 

saw

 that he had great success,

he stood in fearful awe of him.

וַ

יַּ֣

רְ

א

שָׁ

א֔

וּ

ל

אֲ

שֶׁ

ר

־

ה֖

וּ

א

מַ

שְׂ

כִּ֣

י

ל

מְ

אֹ֑

ד

וַ

יָּ֖

גָ

ר

מִ

פָּ

נָֽ

י

ו

׃

18:28-29

But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David,

and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him,

Saul was even more afraid of David.

So Saul was David's enemy continually.

וַ

יַּ֤

רְ

א

שָׁ

א

וּ

ל֙

וַ

יֵּ֔

דַ

ע

כִּ֥

י

יְ

ה

וָ֖

ה

עִ

ם

־

דָּ

וִ֑

ד

וּ

מִ

י

כַ֥

ל

בַּ

ת

־

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

אֲ

הֵ

בַֽ

תְ

ה

וּ

׃

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

סֶ

ף

שָׁ

א֗

וּ

ל

לֵ

רֹ֛

א

מִ

פְּ

נֵ֥

י

דָ

וִ֖

ד

ע֑

וֹ

ד

וַ

יְ

הִ֥

י

שָׁ

א֛

וּ

ל

אֹ

יֵ֥

ב

אֶ

ת

־

דָּ

וִ֖

ד

כָּ

ל

־

הַ

יָּ

מִֽ

י

ם

׃

ס

•

What/How is Saul seeing now?

Word play on 

ראה

Why can't Saul see well?

Because God is against him at this point.

God has

•

rejected him as king

•

torn the kingdom from him

•

taken from him His Spirit

•

sent him a harmful Spirit

1 Samuel 15:28 And Samuel said to him, "The

LORD has 

torn the kingdom

 of Israel from you

this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours,

who is better than you.

1 Samuel 16:14

Now the 

Spirit of the LORD 

departed from Saul,

and a 

harmful spirit 

from the LORD tormented him.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of

divination, and presumption is as iniquity and

idolatry. Because you have 

rejected

 the word of

the LORD, he has also 

rejected

 you from being

king."

•

Saul can't see because God is against him.

•

Saul only sees David’s true colours when he’s already embedded in Saul’s court, and army, and family.

Also a word play on 

בא

Thematically parallels the 

ראה

 word play

Word play on 

בא

וַ

יֹּ֙

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֜

ה

אֶ

ל

־

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

עַ

ד

־

מָ

תַ

י֙

אַ

תָּ

ה֙

מִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֣

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֔

וּ

ל

וַ

אֲ

נִ֣

י

מְ

אַ

סְ

תִּ֔

י

ו

מִ

מְּ

לֹ֖

ךְ

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֑

ל

מַ

לֵּ֙

א

קַ

רְ

נְ

ךָ֜

שֶׁ֗

מֶ

ן

וְ

לֵ֤

ךְ

אֶֽ

שְׁ

לָ

חֲ

ךָ֙

אֶ

ל

־

יִ

שַׁ֣

י

בֵּֽ

י

ת

־

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ֔

י

כִּֽ

י

־

רָ

אִ֧

י

תִ

י

בְּ

בָ

נָ֛

י

ו

לִ֖

י

מֶֽ

לֶ

ךְ

׃

1 Samuel 16:1

The LORD said to Samuel,

"How long will you grieve over Saul,

since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil, and 

go

.

I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite,

for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

וַ

יֹּ֤

א

מֶ

ר

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ

ל֙

אֵ֣

י

ךְ

אֵ

לֵ֔

ךְ

וְ

שָׁ

מַ֥

ע

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

וַ

הֲ

רָ

גָ֑

נִ

י

ס

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֗

ה

עֶ

גְ

לַ֤

ת

בָּ

קָ

ר֙

תִּ

קַּ֣

ח

בְּ

יָ

דֶ֔

ךָ

וְ

אָ֣

מַ

רְ

תָּ֔

לִ

זְ

בֹּ֥

חַ

לַֽ

י

ה

וָ֖

ה

בָּֽ

א

תִ

י

׃

16:2

And Samuel said,

"How can I 

go

? If Saul hears it, he will kill me."

And the LORD said,

"Take a heifer with you and say,

'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'

Word play on 

בא

וַ

יֹּ֙

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֜

ה

אֶ

ל

־

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

עַ

ד

־

מָ

תַ

י֙

אַ

תָּ

ה֙

מִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֣

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֔

וּ

ל

וַ

אֲ

נִ֣

י

מְ

אַ

סְ

תִּ֔

י

ו

מִ

מְּ

לֹ֖

ךְ

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֑

ל

מַ

לֵּ֙

א

קַ

רְ

נְ

ךָ֜

שֶׁ֗

מֶ

ן

וְ

לֵ֤

ךְ

אֶֽ

שְׁ

לָ

חֲ

ךָ֙

אֶ

ל

־

יִ

שַׁ֣

י

בֵּֽ

י

ת

־

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ֔

י

כִּֽ

י

־

רָ

אִ֧

י

תִ

י

בְּ

בָ

נָ֛

י

ו

לִ֖

י

מֶֽ

לֶ

ךְ

׃

1 Samuel 16:1

The LORD said to Samuel,

"How long will you grieve over Saul,

since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil, and 

go

.

I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite,

for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

וַ

יֹּ֤

א

מֶ

ר

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ

ל֙

אֵ֣

י

ךְ

אֵ

לֵ֔

ךְ

וְ

שָׁ

מַ֥

ע

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

וַ

הֲ

רָ

גָ֑

נִ

י

ס

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֗

ה

עֶ

גְ

לַ֤

ת

בָּ

קָ

ר֙

תִּ

קַּ֣

ח

בְּ

יָ

דֶ֔

ךָ

וְ

אָ֣

מַ

רְ

תָּ֔

לִ

זְ

בֹּ֥

חַ

לַֽ

י

ה

וָ֖

ה

בָּֽ

א

תִ

י

׃

16:2

And Samuel said,

"How can I 

go

? If Saul hears it, he will kill me."

And the LORD said,

"Take a heifer with you and say,

'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'

Polzin (p 159)

“We thus possess information about the trip’s true purpose, the anointing of Saul’s successor;

we look upon the heart of the trip.”

Word play on 

בא

וַ

יֹּ֙

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֜

ה

אֶ

ל

־

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

עַ

ד

־

מָ

תַ

י֙

אַ

תָּ

ה֙

מִ

תְ

אַ

בֵּ֣

ל

אֶ

ל

־

שָׁ

א֔

וּ

ל

וַ

אֲ

נִ֣

י

מְ

אַ

סְ

תִּ֔

י

ו

מִ

מְּ

לֹ֖

ךְ

עַ

ל

־

יִ

שְׂ

רָ

אֵ֑

ל

מַ

לֵּ֙

א

קַ

רְ

נְ

ךָ֜

שֶׁ֗

מֶ

ן

וְ

לֵ֤

ךְ

אֶֽ

שְׁ

לָ

חֲ

ךָ֙

אֶ

ל

־

יִ

שַׁ֣

י

בֵּֽ

י

ת

־

הַ

לַּ

חְ

מִ֔

י

כִּֽ

י

־

רָ

אִ֧

י

תִ

י

בְּ

בָ

נָ֛

י

ו

לִ֖

י

מֶֽ

לֶ

ךְ

׃

1 Samuel 16:1

The LORD said to Samuel,

"How long will you grieve over Saul,

since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil, and 

go

.

I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite,

for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

וַ

יֹּ֤

א

מֶ

ר

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ

ל֙

אֵ֣

י

ךְ

אֵ

לֵ֔

ךְ

וְ

שָׁ

מַ֥

ע

שָׁ

א֖

וּ

ל

וַ

הֲ

רָ

גָ֑

נִ

י

ס

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֗

ה

עֶ

גְ

לַ֤

ת

בָּ

קָ

ר֙

תִּ

קַּ֣

ח

בְּ

יָ

דֶ֔

ךָ

וְ

אָ֣

מַ

רְ

תָּ֔

לִ

זְ

בֹּ֥

חַ

לַֽ

י

ה

וָ֖

ה

בָּֽ

א

תִ

י

׃

16:2

And Samuel said,

"How can I 

go

? If Saul hears it, he will kill me."

And the LORD said,

"Take a heifer with you and say,

'I have 

come

 to sacrifice to the LORD.'

Polzin (p 159)

“But then God responds to Samuel’s fears by inventing a subterfuge, thus creating the apparent reason for the trip:

‘And the LORD said, ‘Say “I have 

come

 to sacrifice

”’ (v.2). The narrative distance here between ‘coming’ and ‘going’

represents the ideological distance between appearance and reality.”

Word play on 

בא

וַ

יַּ֣

עַ

שׂ

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

אֵ֚

ת

אֲ

שֶׁ֣

ר

דִּ

בֶּ֣

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֔

ה

וַ

יָּ

בֹ֖

א

בֵּ֣

י

ת

לָ֑

חֶ

ם

וַ

יֶּ

חֶ

רְ

ד֞

וּ

זִ

קְ

נֵ֤

י

הָ

עִ

י

ר֙

לִ

קְ

רָ

א

ת֔

וֹ

וַ

יֹּ֖

א

מֶ

ר

שָׁ

לֹ֥

ם

בּ

וֹ

אֶֽ

ךָ

׃

16:4

Samuel did what the LORD commanded

and 

came

 to Bethlehem.

The elders of the city came to meet him trembling

and said, "Do you 

come

 peaceably?"

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

׀

שָׁ

ל֗

וֹ

ם

לִ

זְ

בֹּ֤

חַ

לַֽ

י

ה

וָ

ה֙

בָּ֔

א

תִ

י

הִֽ

תְ

קַ

דְּ

שׁ֔

וּ

וּ

בָ

א

תֶ֥

ם

אִ

תִּ֖

י

בַּ

זָּ֑

בַ

ח

וַ

יְ

קַ

דֵּ֤

שׁ

אֶ

ת

־

יִ

שַׁ

י֙

וְ

אֶ

ת

־

בָּ

נָ֔

י

ו

וַ

יִּ

קְ

רָ֥

א

לָ

הֶ֖

ם

לַ

זָּֽ

בַ

ח

׃

16:5

And he said,

"Peaceably; I have 

come

 to sacrifice to the LORD.

Consecrate yourselves, and 

come

 with me to the sacrifice."

And he consecrated Jesse and his sons

and invited them to the sacrifice.

Polzin (p 159)

“No matter that God speaks to Samuel or vice versa, that Samuel speaks to the elders or Bethlehem or vice versa, or

finally that the narrator speaks to the reader. In all these cases the spatial shifter indicating movement from Ramah

to Bethlehem is 

a going (halak)

 when its true purpose is being referred to, and 

a coming (ba)

 when its sacrificial

subterfuge is in focus. From God’s spatial perspective (Ramah), Samuel 

goes to anoint

; from the point of view of

those at his destination (Bethlehem), Samuel 

comes to sacrifice

.”

Word play on 

בא

וַ

יַּ֣

עַ

שׂ

שְׁ

מ

וּ

אֵ֗

ל

אֵ֚

ת

אֲ

שֶׁ֣

ר

דִּ

בֶּ֣

ר

יְ

ה

וָ֔

ה

וַ

יָּ

בֹ֖

א

בֵּ֣

י

ת

לָ֑

חֶ

ם

וַ

יֶּ

חֶ

רְ

ד֞

וּ

זִ

קְ

נֵ֤

י

הָ

עִ

י

ר֙

לִ

קְ

רָ

א

ת֔

וֹ

וַ

יֹּ֖

א

מֶ

ר

שָׁ

לֹ֥

ם

בּ

וֹ

אֶֽ

ךָ

׃

16:4

Samuel did what the LORD commanded

and 

came

 to Bethlehem.

The elders of the city came to meet him trembling

and said, "Do you 

come

 peaceably?"

וַ

יֹּ֣

א

מֶ

ר

׀

שָׁ

ל֗

וֹ

ם

לִ

זְ

בֹּ֤

חַ

לַֽ

י

ה

וָ

ה֙

בָּ֔

א

תִ

י

הִֽ

תְ

קַ

דְּ

שׁ֔

וּ

וּ

בָ

א

תֶ֥

ם

אִ

תִּ֖

י

בַּ

זָּ֑

בַ

ח

וַ

יְ

קַ

דֵּ֤

שׁ

אֶ

ת

־

יִ

שַׁ

י֙

וְ

אֶ

ת

־

בָּ

נָ֔

י

ו

וַ

יִּ

קְ

רָ֥

א

לָ

הֶ֖

ם

לַ

זָּֽ

בַ

ח

׃

16:5

And he said,

"Peaceably; I have 

come

 to sacrifice to the LORD.

Consecrate yourselves, and 

come

 with me to the sacrifice."

And he consecrated Jesse and his sons

and invited them to the sacrifice.

Polzin (p 159)

“Of course the sacrifice is never reported as taking place in the story because the anointing of David is the heart of

the matter, whereas the sacrifice is only outward appearance…”

Word play on 

בא

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l

z

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h

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a

v

i

d

.

On page 161 Polzin summarizes:

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