“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and
teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected
you from being king.”
After King Saul committed his second sin, God pronounced His verdict to the prophet: “He has also
rejected you from being king.” For the king, there would be no other chance to regain God’s good
graces. Not for lack of trying. “And Saul said unto Samuel: I have sinned; for I have transgressed the
commandment of the LORD, and your words; because I feared the people, and hearkened to their
voice.” The contrite king meant every word. Saul begged God and Samuel for a reprieve. “Now
therefore, I pray you, pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.” To no avail.
Abravanel contrasts Kings Saul and David, specifically the treatment they received by the Maker after
both men sinned. He asks: Why did the Creator come down so hard on King Saul? It is true that Saul
transgressed God’s word when he spared King Agag. Equally true is that Saul sinned when he spared
Amalek’s beefy livestock. However, Abravanel contends, there was more to the man and more to the
story. Saul’s military exploits and daring can hardly be overstated. Without a whit of hyperbole, he
fought selflessly on behalf of the people and the country.
How different was God’s treatment of King David after his egregious sins, as we will read later in Samuel.
For now, we refer to David’s role in the death of the Hebrew warrior, Uriah. That compounded David’s
affair with Bat Sheba, the wife of Uriah. Despite David’s deeds, Heaven did not pronounce him unfit for
office.
This topic of contrasting Saul and David, not surprisingly, captured the imagination of many Biblical
commentators. Let us share Abravanel’s response to the chief differences between the two men’s
respective wrongs, as well as the different punishments meted out by God. But first to Abravanel’s
query: Did the Creator takes sides? Did He shower favor upon one king but not the other? Certainly not.
Based on three main observations of one medieval rabbi, we shall see why, albeit in shorthand.
- Saul failed in the high office entrusted to him, as king. David did not.
- Saul, unquestioningly expressed remorse for his dereliction of duty. David’s contrition, Heaven
attests, had been of a more profound and sincere nature. - Saul’s wrongdoings put him at odds with divine commandments which devolved upon him and
only him. David’s felonies did not flout divine commands pertaining directly and particularly to
him. Instead, David’s lapses, as heinous as they were, had been of a general nature and
constituted infringements of Biblical commandments that bound each and every Hebrew.
Abravanel builds on these three bullet points above brought by an earlier scholar, adding a fourth
rationale to explain why God came down harder on Saul than David. In sum, it comes down to a sharp
contrast between both kings’ respective religiosity or piety. Let’s explain.
The Maker did not accept Saul’s overtures and contrition. Why? It is because his two flaws centered on
shortcomings of faith and love for God. To be sure, when it came to sizing up Saul’s social greatness, his
performance of man-based commandments excelled above the rest. Indeed, on that count, his record
was matchless, so devout was Saul in social skills and man-focused behavior. But let us say, notwithstanding its importance, high marks in societal more is not what defines the true greatness of a Jew. Rather, a Jew’s test of character and mettle, ultimately, get evaluated by his level of faith in God
and love for Him.
Given this parameter of measuring a Jew’s success based on closeness or intimacy with his relationship
with God, David crushed it. Indeed, David strove and struggled at that which makes a Jew a Jew.
Tirelessly and continually, he toiled in order to instill within himself pure faith and belief. David’s love for
his Creator is apparent should anyone glance at David’s work: Psalms. Thus, when a broken King David
begged the Maker for compassion, He heeded the call.