By Irv Jacobs, M.D.
LA JOLLA, California — This short, mainly prose, passage competes with one from Isaiah 43:21-44:23, which in Etz Hayim is the common accompanying passage to the Torah portion Vayikra.
It was placed in the Conservative calendar of 2022 by contemporary rabbis to accompany Vayikra. It is not clear why this passage was chosen over the more classical Haftorah above, printed in Etz Hayim. [1]
In the Isaiah passages, the connection to the Vayikra Torah reading is that the Torah passages deal with a variety of sacrifices, whereas in the Isaiah passages (c. 538 BCE), the prophet decries the abandonment of such cultic offerings.
In these Samuel passages, the reader is exposed to a litany of hateful messages against enemies, the classical emphasis being on Amalek as a perpetual symbol. [2] These Samuel messages do not have an evident connection to Vayikra.
Here are excerpts:
Thus says the LORD of Armies (to Saul), “I have made reckoning of what Amalek did to Israel, [3] that he set against him on the way as he was coming up from Egypt. Now, go and strike down Amalek…put to death man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”
And Saul summoned the troops…200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. And Saul came up to…city of Amalek and lay in wait…and said to the Kenite…’turn away from…the Amalek…lest I sweep you away…with him…for you did kindness to…Israelites when they came…from Egypt.’
And the Kenite turned away from…Amalek…Saul struck down Amalek…And he caught Agog king of Amalek alive…and his people…with the…sword.
And Saul…spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle…and everything he could use. [4]
And the word of the LORD came to Samuel saying, ‘I repent that I made Saul king…My words he has not fulfilled.’ Samuel was incensed and…cried out to the LORD all night…and Samuel rose…in the morning to meet Saul…who was gone to Carmel…and put up a monument for himself.
And Samuel came to Saul…and Saul said…’Blessed be you to the LORD! I have fulfilled the word of the LORD.’
…Samuel said, “And what is this sound of sheep in my ears, and the sound of cattle (you have spared)?
…Samuel said, ‘Hold off that I may tell you what the LORD* spoke to me [5]…He said, ‘Though you may be small in your own eyes, you are head of Israel, as anointed king…the LORD sent you on a mission..vs. Amalek…destroy them all.’
‘And why did you not heed…the LORD, for you pounced on the booty and did evil in the eyes of the LORD?’
And Saul said…’but I heeded the voice of the LORD and went…where sent, and brought back Agag king of Amalek, but Amalek’s people I ended…
And the troops took the booty…to sacrifice to the LORD…’ [6]
Samuel said (in poetic verse),
“Does the LORD take delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in heeding His voice?
For heeding is better than sacrifice,
harkening, than the fat of rams.
For the diviner’s offense is rebellion,
the transgression of idols—defiance. [7]
Since you have cast off the word of the LORD,
He has cast you aside as king.” [8]
Saul pleaded, “I have offended, having transgressed the LORD’s word and your word, for I feared the troops and listened to them. Now then, forgive me and restore my kingship. [9]
And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not!…and Saul grasped the skirt of Samuel’s coat, and it tore.
And Samuel said, ‘The LORD has torn away the kingship from you…and given it another (David), who is better…God does not reverse decisions.’
And Saul said, ‘I have offended. Now show me honor…before my people Israel…turn back for me, that I may bow to the LORD your God.
Here comes the mandatory “upbeat” ending:
Samuel turned back from Saul…and said, ‘Bring forth to me Agag king of Amalek!’ And Agag was brought forth…with hesitating steps.
Samuel said,
“As your sword has bereaved women,
more bereaved than all women your mother!”
And Samuel cut him apart before the LORD.
(And Samuel saw Saul no more till his dying day, for Samuel was grieved about Saul, and the LORD had reversed making Saul king over Israel.)
[1] Etz Hayim,The Jewish Publication Society, 2001, New York, pp. 607-12 The rabbis this year (2022) have their own rationales.
[2] Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible, Prophets Vol. 2, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 2019, pp. 234-9
[3] This references the Torah legend, Deuteronomy 25:18, wherein the Amalekites attacked/ambushed the Israelite stragglers coming out of Egypt.
[4] greedily keeping what could be profitable.
[5] In psychiatric parlance today, anyone who claims God speaks to him is psychotic.
[6] He tries to shift blame onto his troops!
[7] following God’s orders is priority over sacrifice. Those who do ‘divination’ are rebels.
[8] I, Samuel, strip you of the crown.
[9] This is called ‘shifting the blame.’
Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who delights in Torah analysis. He often delivers a drosh at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, and at his chavurah.