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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).
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
