Questions tagged [samuel-shmuel-book-of]
The third book of Neviim about Shmuel the last Judge of the Jewish nation, his anointing of Shaul and David the first and second Kings and concerning their leadership of Israel
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When was book of Shmuel written?
The Gmara says :
שמואל כתב ספרו והכתיב (שמואל א כח, ג) ושמואל מת דאסקיה גד החוזה ונתן הנביא
(Baba Batra 15:1), that is Shmuel, Gad and Nathan wrote the book of Shmuel.
However, in Shmuel 1 27:6 it ...
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For those who hold that David sinned, how was he allowed to ever marry Bat Sheba?
I might be erring here, but IIRC adulterers can't ever be married.
For those who hold that David did sin, how was he allowed to marry Bat Sheba?
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For those who claim that David didn't sin, why didn't he marry Bat Sheva right away?
In the story of David sleeping secretly with Bat Shevah and trying to conceal his actions by fooling Uriah (II_Samuel.11.25). THe Gemmorah (Shabbat.56a) suggests that David didn't sin:
"As Rabbi ...
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How does Nathan's "poor man’s lamb" parable relate to David's deeds?
IIRC, the story tells us that David sleeps with Uriah's wife, impregnates her, tries to get away with it and fails, commands his general to send the husband to be murdered, and after he dies, openly ...
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Did אָכִיש actually use Hashem?
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵ֠לָיו חַי־יְהוָ֞ה כִּי־יָשָׁ֣ר אַתָּ֗ה
(שמואל א 29:6)
This has the פְּלִשְׁתִּי swearing by Hashem.
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Ark of the Covenant
During the journey a man named Uzza touched the Ark of the Covenant to support it and fell dead on the spot (2 Samuel 6:1-8, 1 Chronicles 13:9-10). Here are two questions: 1. Why does God kill for ...
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Why did the Davidic dynasty need to come from questionable relations?
On the one side of the family, we have the union between Tamar and Yehudah, which, while technically a fulfillment of Yibum, Yehudah thought she was a harlot. From this union came Peretz (Bereishis 38:...
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Song of the 5 Kings?
In Joshua 12:9-24 there is Joshua's famous song of triumph over the 31 Kings of the Land of Canaan which he conquered. The song (and it is a song per the Talmud Megillah 16b) is structured in two ...
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Why was King David so sad over Avner's death?
At the end of Shmuel 2 chapter 3, Joab kills Avner. Why was King David so upset and sad over his death? From reading the Tanach, it seems as if he barely knew Avner and Avner was not fond of the house ...
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Did Avshalom sleep with the ten concubines of Dovid?
Did Avshalom sleep with the ten concubines of Dovid? And if so, are the names of the women known? And was it considered rape?
II Shmuel 16:22
And they spread for Absalom a tent upon the roof; and ...
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How could Samuel sacrifice not in the central place with the Levites?
In Leviticus 17, we find:
17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the people of Israel and say to them, This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. 3 If ...
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How was Saul a Tzadik if he wiped out Nov?
I've read many commentaries that argue that despite losing the kingdom, Saul is a righteous guy.
But how, after he mass murdered priests (Samuel 1 21-22)? To be more exact, he ordered priests to be ...
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Question about Shmuel 1:11:11 and Tehillim 83:8
From what I can tell, whenever the word "Amon" - "עמון" appears in Tanach (not עמוני/ת, etc), it's always preceded by the word "bnei" - "בני", except for two ...
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Torah Genealogy not mentioning childless people
In Shmuel 1, 17:12, the sons of Yishai are listed. There is a discrepancy between this count (of 7) and the textual statements that Yishai had 8 sons. Some meforshim explain this as because the 8th, ...
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1 Shmuel 15: does Hashem "repent"?
The narrative of 1 Shmuel 15 has to do with Shaul forfeiting his kingship because of his mercy to Agag. The root nun-het-mem (I'm seeing it translated as "repent" or "relent") appears three times, ...
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Why did Yonatan arrange the secret arrow sign with David?
In Shmuel Alef (20:20–22) Yonatan arranges a whole scheme to secretly inform David whether or not it's safe for him to return. However, after the sign is given that it's not safe (20:40), Yonatan ...
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The Amalekite youth's capital punishment
In Samuel 2 chapter 1, the Amalekite lad tells David the news that King Saul is dead and that Saul had asked him to take his life. David sentences the youth to death.
The pesukim suggest that the ...
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Agag's mother being bereaved
Inspired by this answer.
If the only one of Amalek left alive was Agag, then how was his mother to be bereaved among women (I Shmuel 33)? The Malbim seems to say that she will be so from that point ...
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G-d abrogated the Torah?
I was having a discussion with some Muslims regarding abolishing of the Mosaic law. During that discussion they produced the following as an example of abrogation taking place:
Bamidbar 25:13 states:
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Why was Batsheva bathing on the roof
In 2 Shmuel 11:2 it says that Dovid saw
"וַיְהִי לְעֵת הָעֶרֶב וַיָּקָם דָּוִד מֵעַל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ עַל־גַּג בֵּית־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיַּרְא אִשָּׁה רֹחֶצֶת מֵעַל הַגָּג וְהָאִשָּׁה טוֹבַת ...
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Was it David's custom to go into battle without an armour?
Shmuel I 17:38-39:
וַיַּלְבֵּ֨שׁ שָׁא֚וּל אֶת־דָּוִד֙ מַדָּ֔יו וְנָתַ֛ן ק֥וֹבַע נְח֖שֶׁת עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיַּלְבֵּ֥שׁ אֹת֖וֹ שִׁרְיֽוֹן. וַיַּחְגֹּ֣ר דָּוִ֣ד אֶת־חַ֠רְבּוֹ מֵעַ֨ל לְמַדָּ֜יו וַיֹּ֣אֶל ...
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What Happened To King David's Parents?
I read somewhere (I believe it was a midrash) that King David's parents were murdered?
Is this this factual or is it an allegory for some other interpretation, e.g losing their money/status?
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When (day, month, year) did Avshalom son of king David die?
When (day, month, year) did Avshalom son of king David die?
Please cite a source as to exactly when this happened.
II Samuel 18:15 And there circled about ten young men who were Joab's
armor bearers, ...
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Multiple Tribes of Binyamin?
In the book "Sefer Yosef Breslevi", there's an essay by Yisrael Ben-Shem in which he raises multiple questions related to various appearances of people from the Tribe of Binyamin throughout ...
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Plural and singular in Shmuel 2:24:14
In Shmuel 2:24:14 it says:
"David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for His compassion is great; and let me not fall into the hands of men.”"
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Was Eli the Kohen Gadol until he died?
Apparently, a blind kohen can't serve in the Mikdash:
Bechorot 44a:
The Sages taught in a baraita: When it is stated that a blind man [iver] is disqualified from performing the Temple service (see ...
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How Could David Kill the Ger Amaleki Based on Halacha?
In Shmuel Bet, David Hamelech kills the Ger Haamaleki for killing Shaul.
However, the only reason he knew this was because of his own admission.
How does this relate to אין אדם משים עצמו רשע, the fact ...
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Which Abigail is this?
In Shmuel II 17:25, it says:
וְאֶת עֲמָשָֹא שָֹם אַבְשָׁלֹם תַּחַת יוֹאָב עַל הַצָּבָא וַעֲמָשָֹא בֶן אִישׁ וּשְׁמוֹ יִתְרָא הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִי אֲשֶׁר בָּא אֶל אֲבִיגַל בַּת נָחָשׁ אֲחוֹת צְרוּיָה אֵם ...
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Which source more accurately depicts Goliath's height?
There appear to be differing accounts about how tall Goliath was.
The 1st century historian Josephus, and both The Dead Sea Scrolls texts and 4th century Septuagint texts of Samuel report Goliath as ...
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Why not to Eli?
I wasn't quite sure on how to word the Title. My question is on Nach in Shmuel Alef, where in Perek 2 a Prophet, either Elkanah or as the Ralbag says it was Pinchas, they tell Eli, that because of ...
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Why did King David tell Itai to go back or to wander somewhere else
In Shmuel 2 Chapter 15 Paragraph 20 Kind David singles out Itai and tells him to either go back or to leave him..
Was he scared that Itai would betray him? or did he fear for his and his brothers ...
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What do we make of the witch of Endor?
The Torah forbids necromancy [Lev. 19:31 and 20:6,27; Deut. 18:11]. Yet King Saul goes to the witch of Endor, who brings up the dead prophet Samuel for him. Samuel responds:
Why have you ...
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Why is Yiftach's sacrifice of his kin looked at so negatively, while Chana's "sacrifice" of kin so positively?
According to the commentaries (who include the Ralbag, Radak, Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel) who say Yiftach didn't literally kill his daughter but rather made more of a spiritual "sacrifice", where she ...
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How can the Rambam say anointing a King requires a Sanhedrin, when Shmuel anointed King David alone?
The Rambam says a King must be anointed by a Sanhedrin, why did Shmuel seemingly go alone in secret?
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Why was King David allowed to mourn on the floor?
I heard from my rav that one of the laws of a king is that during mourning, he is not allowed to sit on the floor. Rather he sits on a couch, so as not shame his status as the king.
If this is true, ...
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Blot out the memory of Amalek or kill his descendants?
Can a prophet issue commands that go beyond the Torah?
The Torah says only to blot out Amalek's memory:
The Lord said to Moses, "... I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."...
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If a husband intentionally warns his wife knowing that she will not sin, does she drink?
Berachos 31b:
״אִם רָאֹה תִרְאֶה״, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: אָמְרָה חַנָּה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, ״אִם רָאֹה״ — מוּטָב, וְאִם לָאו — ״תִּרְאֶה״ אֵלֵךְ וְאֶסְתַּתֵּר ...
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Why was Chanah called an "Ishah Kesheirah"?
The Gemoro says that when Chanah was caught by Eli davening and whispering, he asked the Urim Vetumim about her to see if she was ok. The letters ה ר ש כ appeared on the Urim Vetumim.
Eli understood ...
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Why was it wrong for David to number Israel?
(This is not a duplicate of halacha - Why was King David Punished for Sending Others to Conduct a Census? - Mi Yodeya.)
1 Chronicles 21, and 2 Samuel 24 relate how King David took it upon himself to ...
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Why did David choose to lay with a married woman when it seems so out of his character?
How Could David go and do this?
I understand the whole get thing that before going into battle the men would give their wives a get in case they died, but nevertheless, we're talking about the great ...
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Why does the book of Shmuel present two origins for the expression "Is Shaul too among the prophets"?
Shmuel I 10:10-12:
וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ שָׁם֙ הַגִּבְעָ֔תָה וְהִנֵּ֥ה חֶֽבֶל־נְבִאִ֖ים לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וַתִּצְלַ֤ח עָלָיו֙ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֖א בְּתוֹכָֽם׃
וַיְהִ֗י כָּל־יֽוֹדְעוֹ֙ מֵאִתְּמ֣וֹל ...
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Were Prophets originally called "Seers"?
In Samuel 1 9:9 it says:
לְפָנִ֣ים ׀ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר הָאִישׁ֙ בְּלֶכְתּוֹ֙
לִדְר֣וֹשׁ אֱלֹהִ֔ים לְכ֥וּ וְנֵלְכָ֖ה עַד־הָרֹאֶ֑ה כִּ֤י לַנָּבִיא֙
הַיּ֔וֹם יִקָּרֵ֥א לְפָנִ֖ים הָרֹאֶֽה׃...
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In 2 Samuel 8:4 was David rendering the horses unable to stand up (and graze) or just ruining them as war horses?
2 Samuel 8:4 JPS And David captured from him, one thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David houghed [IE: "hamstrung"] all the chariots [horses] and left over of them ...
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Why didn't Shaul kill Agag?
As recorded in I Sh'muel (chapter 15), Shaul, the king, was told by the prophet to destroy the nation of Amalek
from man to woman, youngster to suckling, ox to sheep, camel to donkey.
So he ...
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Why, according to Rashi, do the words Aron Ha-Elokim refer to the Urim Ve-Tumim, and not the Aron Ha-Kodesh in I Shmuel 14:18?
Rashi comments to the words "Aron Ha-Elokim" in Shmuel I 14:18, saying that these words refer to the Urim Ve-Tumim. Why does Rashi understand these words to be referring to the Urim Ve-Tumim, when ...
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Connection between the eulogy of Shaul by Dovid and Nedarim
Two Mishnayos in Nedarim, 3:11 and 9:10, contain quotes from the eulogy of Shaul by Dovid . Both quotes are tangents, they don't directly relate to each other in context, and neither is really ...
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Why did the people want a king?
Why did the people want a king? Why couldn't they just find another shofet ("judge"-ruler, as in the book of Judges)? Can't also shofets lead in battle (Joshua, et al.)?
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How many sets of Urim VeTumim were there?
On one TaNaKH passage, it seems both David (1 Samuel 30) and Shaul (1 Samuel 28) had access to an Urim VeTumim, suggesting there was more than one set of Urim VeTumim.
Hence my question: How many ...
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David's Idol: why did he have one?
In שמואל א יט it says in reference to David's escape from Saul:
וַתִּקַּ֨ח מִיכַ֜ל אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֗ים וַתָּ֙שֶׂם֙ אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֔ה וְאֵת֙ כְּבִ֣יר הָֽעִזִּ֔ים שָׂ֖מָה מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו וַתְּכַ֖ס בַּבָּֽגֶד׃...
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Was it right for David to hang Saul's descendants for their father's sin?
In II Samuel chapter 21, David orders the hanging of seven males from Saul's issue (at the request of the Gibeonites) for Saul's wiping out of Nob. When I read this chapter, I was confused.
We know ...
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