24: The Pursuer and the Pursued - Part II

Biblical Times Podcast

This episode delves into the psychological dynamics of Samuel and Saul.

The turning point in Samuel's personality—previously depicted as gentle and reserved—occurs when the tribal elders visit his home to request the appointment of a warrior-king for Israel. They point out that his sons are corrupt and therefore unfit to inherit his position (Chapter 8).

While Samuel ignores the harsh criticism directed at his sons, from that moment onward, he is portrayed as a vengeful and angry man. Instead of appointing the warrior-king as the elders sought, Samuel chooses young Saul—a man with no military experience and anxious tendencies. Saul was someone Samuel could, and did, manipulate, torment, and humiliate.

The narrative depicts Saul's gradual psychological decline, culminating on the eve of his final battle against the Philistines. Desperate and broken, Saul seeks out the Witch of Endor and asks her to summon Samuel’s spirit from the dead. When Samuel’s spirit rises, it mercilessly berates Saul, leaving the king collapsed and helpless on the ground.

This episode concludes with a striking plot twist. Samuel, who initially appointed an inexperienced and fragile young man as king, repeats this pattern by selecting another young man with no military background—David. However, unlike Saul, David proves to be a natural leader: charismatic and emotionally resilient.