SAMUEL

2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الْمَلإِ مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِن بَعْدِ مُوسَى ...

2: 246. Hast thou not turned thy vision to the chiefs of the children of Israel after (the time of) Moses?

C277. The next generation after Moses and Aaron was ruled by Joshua, who crossed the Jordan and settled the tribes in Palestine. His rule lasted for 25 years, after which there was a period of 320 years when the Israelites had a chequered history. They were not united among themselves, and suffered many reverses at the hands of the Midianites, Amalekites and other tribes of Palestine.

They frequently lapsed into idolatry and deserted the worship of the true Allah. From time to time a leader appeared among them who assumed dictatorial powers. Acting under a sort of theocratic commission from Allah, he pointed out their backsliding, re-united them under His banner, and restored, from time to time and place to place, the power of Israel.

These dictators are called Judges in the English translation of the Old Testament. The last of their line was Samuel, who marks the transition towards the line of Kings on the one hand and of the later Prophets on the other. He may be dated approximately about the 11th century B.C.

... إِذْ قَالُواْ لِنَبِيٍّ لَّهُمُ ابْعَثْ لَنَا مَلِكًا نُّقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ...

They said to a Prophet (that was) among them: "Appoint for us a king, that we may fight in the Cause of Allah."

C278. This was Samuel. In his time Israel had suffered from much corruption within and many reverses without. The Philistines had made a great attack and defeated Israel with great slaughter.

The Israelites, instead of relying on Faith and their own valour and cohesion, brought out their most sacred possession, the Ark of the Covenant, to help them in the fight. But the enemy captured it, carried it away, and retained it for seven months.

The Israelites forgot that wickedness cannot screen itself behind a sacred relic. Nor can a sacred relic help the enemies of faith. The enemy found that the Ark brought nothing but misfortune for themselves, and were glad to abandon it.

It apparently remained twenty years in the village (qarya) of Yaarim (Kirjath-jeafim): I. Samuel, 7:2.

Meanwhile the people pressed Samuel to appoint them a king. They thought that a king would cure all their ills, whereas what was wanting was a spirit of union and discipline and a readiness on their part to fight in the cause of Allah.

... قَالَ هَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ أَلاَّ تُقَاتِلُواْ...

He said: "Is it not possible if ye were commanded to fight, that ye will not fight?"

C279. Samuel knew as a Prophet that the people were fickle and only wanted to cover their own want of union and true spirit by asking for a king.

They replied with spirit in words, but when it came to action, they failed. They hid themselves in caves and rocks, or ran away, and even those who remained "followed him trembling": I. Samuel, 13:6-7.

... قَالُواْ وَمَا لَنَا أَلاَّ نُقَاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَقَدْ أُخْرِجْنَا مِن دِيَارِنَا وَأَبْنَآئِنَا...

They said: "How could we refuse to fight in the Cause of Allah, seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?"

... فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوْاْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّنْهُمْ ...

But when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them.

... وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٢٤٦﴾

But Allah has full knowledge of those who do wrong.

وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًا...

2: 247. Their Prophet said to them: "Allah hath appointed Talut as king over you."

C280. Talut is the Arabic name for Saul, who was tall and handsome, but belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel. His worldly belongings were slender, and it was when he went out to search for some asses which had been lost from his father's house that he met Samuel and was anointed king by him.

The people's fickleness appeared immediately he was named. They raised all sorts of petty objections to him. The chief consideration in their minds was selfishness: each one wanted to be leader and king himself, instead of desiring sincerely the good of the people as a whole, as a leader should do.

... قَالُوَاْ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِّنَ الْمَالِ...

They say: "How can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted with wealth in abundance?"

... قَالَ إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَاهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِ...

He said: "Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess;

... وَاللّهُ يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَن يَشَاء...

Allah granteth His authority to whom He pleaseth.

... وَاللّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٤٧﴾

Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all things."

وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نِبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ آيَةَ مُلْكِهِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ التَّابُوتُ ...

2: 248. And (further) their Prophet said to them: "A sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the Covenant,

C281. Ark of the Covenant: Tabut: a chest of acacia wood covered and lined with pure gold, about 6ft x 3ft x 3ft.

See Exod 25:10-22.

It was to contain the "testimony of Allah", or the Ten Commandments engraved on stone, with relics of Moses and Aaron. Its Gold lid was to be the "Mercy Seat" with two cherubims of beaten gold, with wings outstretched. This was a sacred possession to Israel. It was lost to the enemy in the early part of Samuel's ministry; see n. 278 to 2:246; when it came back, it remained in a village for twenty years and was apparently taken to the capital when kingship was instituted. It thus became a symbol of unity and authority. (R).

... فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ...

with (an assurance) therein of security from your Lord,

C282. Security sakina: safety, tranquility, peace.

Later Jewish writings use the same word for a symbol of Allah's Glory in the Tabernacle or tent in which the Ark was kept, or in the Temple when it was built by Solomon.

... وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ آلُ مُوسَى وَآلُ هَارُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ الْمَلآئِكَةُ...

and the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried by angels.

C283. Carried by angels: these words refer to the Tabut or Ark, (R).

... إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢٤٨﴾

In this is a Symbol for you if ye indeed have faith."

فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِالْجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللّهَ مُبْتَلِيكُم بِنَهَرٍ...

2: 249. When Talut set forth with the armies, he said: "Allah will test you at the stream;

C284. A Commander is hampered by a large force if it is not in perfect discipline and does not whole-heartedly believe in its Commander. He must get rid of all the doubtful ones, as did Gideon before Saul, and Henry V. in Shakespeare's story long afterwards.

Saul used the same test as Gideon; he gave a certain order when crossing a stream; the greater part disobeyed, and were sent back.

Gideon's story will be found in Judges, 7:2-7.

... فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَمَن لَّمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي إِلاَّ مَنِ اغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةً بِيَدِهِ...

if any drinks of its water, he goes not with my army; only those who taste not of it go with me; a mere sip out of the hand is excused."

... فَشَرِبُواْ مِنْهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّنْهُمْ ...

But they all drank of it, except a few.

... فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُ هُوَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ قَالُواْ لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنودِهِ...

When they crossed the river, he and the faithful ones with him, they said: "This day we cannot cope with Goliath and his forces."

C285. Even in the small band that remained faithful, there were some who were appalled by the number of the enemy when they met him face to face, and saw the size and strength of the enemy Commander, the giant Goliath (Jalut).

But there was a very small band who were determined to face all odds because they had perfect confidence in God and in the cause for which they were fighting. They were for making a firm stand and seeking Allah's help. Of that number was David;

see next note.

... قَالَ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلاَقُو اللّهِ ...

But those who were convinced that they must meet Allah, said:

... كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ...

"How oft, by Allah's will, hath a small force vanquished a big one?

... وَاللّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿٢٤٩﴾

Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere."

Asad’s Version:

2: 246 Are you not aware of those elders of the children of Israel, after the time of Moses, how they said unto a prophet of theirs, “ Raise up a king for us, (and) we shall fight in God’s cause” ?

Said he: “Would you, perchance, refrain from fighting if fighting is ordained for you?”

They answered: “And why should we not fight in God’s cause when we and our children have been driven from our homelands?”

Yet when fighting was ordained for them, they did turn back, save for a few of them; but God had full knowledge of the evildoers.

2:247 And their prophet said unto those elders: “ Behold, now God has raised up Saul to be your king.”

They said: ”How can he have dominion over us when we have a better claim to dominion than he, and he has not (even) been endowed with abundant wealth?”

(The prophet) replied: Behold, God has exalted him above you, and endowed him abundantly with knowledge and bodily perfection. And God bestows His dominion upon whom he wills: for God is infinite, all-knowing.”

2:248 And their prophet said unto them: “Behold, it shall be a sign of his (rightful) dominion that you will be granted a heart endowed by your Sustainer with inner peace and with all that is enduring in the angel-borne heritage left behind by the House of Moses and the House of Aaron. Herein , behold, there shall indeed be a sign for you if you are (truly) believers.”

2: 249 And when Saul set out with his forces, he said: “Behold, God will now try you by a river: he who shall drink of it will not belong to me, whereas he who shall refrain from tasting it – he indeed will belong to me; but forgiven shall be he who shall scoop up but a single handful.”

However, save for a few of them, they all drank (their fill) of it. And as soon as he and those who had kept faith with him had crossed the river, the others said: “No strength have we today (to stand up) against Goliath and his forces!”

2: 249 – 251 Samuel-David’s story (con’t).