Hello, I'm Gary Stevens, and welcome to the History in the Bible podcast.

All the history, in all the books, in all the Bibles.

Thank you. Episode 1.32. The Complicated Rise of David.

In the last episode of the History in the Bible podcast, Saul had been made King of the Hebrews in four different ways.

According to the first accession story, Samuel directed Saul to wait seven days before engaging

the Philistines. Saul's army became more and more anxious waiting for Gandalf, sorry Samuel, to appear.

Fearing a collapse in morale, Saul reluctantly offers the sacrifices himself.

Samuel eventually shows up only to condemn Saul for arrogating the priestly function of sacrifice to himself.

Quote, 1 Samuel 1313.

And Samuel said to Saul, you have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of Yava your God,

with which he commanded you. For then Yahweh would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. Yave has sought out a man after his own heart

and Yave has commanded him to be prince over his people because you have not kept what

Yahweh commanded you."

End quote.

Samuel's outrage is surely manufactured.

The book's author is just looking for reasons to condemn Saul.

Later kings, David included, would conduct their own sacrificial rights, with neary a complaint

from prophet or priest. Saul confects yet more outrage after Saul's triumph over the Amalekites,

and ancient enemy I mentioned in episode 1.15. Samuel's instructions, before the the war were very specific. Here is the

Shokken Bible translation. Quote, 1 Samuel 15.1. Samuel said to Saul,

it is I whom Yave sent to anoint you as king over his people, over Israel. So now, hearken to the voice of

Yave's words. Thus says Yave of the forces on high, I have taken account of what Amalek did to Israel.

...