Samuel 16 introduces a new era in Jewish history. We speak about the Davidic dynasty, beginning
obviously enough with David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons. Seeing that prophets were entrusted to do
God’s bidding and anoint kings, that job devolved upon Samuel.
“And the LORD said unto Samuel: How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I
have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill your horn with oil, and go, I
will send you to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided Me a king among
his sons.”
The Maker’s removal of King Saul, the prophet’s handiwork, per se, devastated Samuel. He reeled in agony. Nor did the passage of time
soften the blow.
But God had enough of the prophet’s moping. “How long will you mourn for Saul” said the Creator –
really more of a statement than question. God tasked Samuel with something urgent – the coronation of
a new king. For his part, the prophet wasn’t budging. “And Samuel said: How can I go? if Saul hear it, he
will kill me.” Here, Abravanel frames incisive questions to better understand this exchange.
Why did the prophet fear for his life? Where was his trust in and reliance on the Creator? Long-standing
tradition is unequivocal: God protects those who engage in divine commandments, one of which is
obeying God and anointing a king. Furthermore, when we study Moses’ encounters with Egypt’s
Pharoah, he never flinched. Even after orchestrating a raft of debilitating plagues that leveled Egypt, still,
Moses appeared nonchalant, never uttering a word about getting whacked by the battered Pharoah.
Abravanel continues. Why didn’t God read Samuel the riot act for his (mis-) conduct? Alternatively, why
hadn’t the Maker soothed Samuel, saying: Fret not. I shall be with you? I have your back. God could have
assured a rattled seer, yet He didn’t. What does God actually say to Samuel? “And the LORD said: Take a
heifer with you, and say: I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.” God orders up a ruse, a concocted story
about Samuel coming to Bethlehem to offer a sacrifice. Things don’t meet the eye, says Abravanel.
Here is Abravanel’s approach to the God/prophet dialogue. Mourning has its limits, Samuel heard God
tell him. “And the LORD said unto Samuel: How long will you mourn for Saul…?” Besides, there was work
to do. “Fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse…” To the Maker’s request came Samuel’s
refusal: “If Saul hear it, he will kill me.” Abravanel believes that the prophet was being disingenuous.
Samuel feigned fear; he didn’t really feel it. Instead, he simply did not have the heart to anoint another
person, while Saul still lived, reigned. Thus, for purposes of getting out of Heaven’s mission, Samuel
offered a feeble excuse about fearing Saul’s retribution.
Did Samuel fear for his life? Not at all, according to Abravanel. He well understood that the Maker
protects His loyal servants. Additionally, the prophet knew that King Saul would not lay a finger on him,
so esteemed was Samuel in Saul’s eyes – respected even more than his own father.
To reiterate, Samuel sought a way out. Plain and simple. Of course, God peers into man’s heart and so
He knew what Samuel wanted to accomplish and that fear never figured into the equation. Actually, this
tactic of prophets who preferred not to perform God’s command was not terribly uncommon. Yet, they
would not come out and just say it: No thank you, God. For example, take Moses’ initial no to God at the
burning bush (Exodus 6).
Naturally, God stayed His course, directing Samuel. “Take a heifer with you, and say: I am come to
sacrifice to the LORD.” The Maker suggested the sacrifice story, per se, to soothe Samuel and coax
cooperation. “And Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Beth-lehem.” The prophet was
about to meet the Maker’s pick for monarch – a young, captivating shepherd with pleasing eyes.