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When Shaul’s secret service told him that David was in Nayot in Rama, it says that "Shaul sent messengers to seize David, and he saw a band of prophets prophesizing and Shmuel was standing (nitzav) over them, and the spirit of Hashem was on Shaul’s messengers and they also prophesized" (ibid. 19:19).
First, when Shaul heard about David’s prophesying with Shmuel, he was aware of David’s prophecy about Goliat. After all, David had already relayed it to the troops and then repeated it to Shaul, in persuading Shaul to let him try to fight Goliat (see Shmuel I, 17:29-38, which is analyzed in the soon to be published Tzofnat Shmuel).
Regarding Shaul’s sending of his agents, it does not say that they saw the prophets prophesizing, but that he (presumably meaning Shaul himself) did. But how did Shaul see it if he remained at home and did not yet come himself? We can solve the problem with help from a parallel pasuk about Yaakov, which says: "Yaakov saw that there was shever (food) in Egypt" (Bereishit 42:1-2). There too, we can ask how Yaakov saw what was doing in Egypt if he was in Chevron, as he should only have been able to hear accounts. The midrash explains that from the time Yosef was abducted, Yaakov lost much of the clarity of his prophecy, and yet at that time he saw in prophecy that his sever (hope) was in Egypt (Bereishit Rabba 91:6). Thus, with the return to improved prophecy, Yaakov was able to see that he had special opportunities in Egypt.
The same thing, then, happened to Shaul. Once Shmuel and David started dealing prophetically with the matter of the building of the Beit Hamikdash, Shaul was able to see things prophetically that he had not been able to for a while, and his spirit improved. At the same time, Shmuel’s students (the band of prophets) also were privy to the wave of prophecy, and they too prophesied in a way they had not before, as the pasuk says. Even Shaul’s agents, who were not prophets or students of prophets, started prophesying once they approached David and Shmuel. Finally, when Shaul came himself, he prophesized fully before Shmuel, prompting people to say, "Hagam Shaul banevi’im?" (Is Shaul also a prophet?) This is something that he merited first, soon after he was anointed to be king (Shmuel I, 10:11-12), and now again when he was affected by the swelling of prophecy along with the Divine Presence.
May we merit seeing Hashem’s return to Zion and to "the honor of Hashem filled the Mishkan" (Shemot 40:35).
Rabbis in Midrash
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.