Haftarah of Zachor

Haftarah of Shabbat Zachor

Shmuel I 15 : 1- 34

The Haftarah takes place during the reign of the first king of Israel, Shaul. The previous leader of Israel had been the prophet Shmuel. When Shmuel grew old, the Jewish People asked him to appoint the next leader, this time, a king "like all other nations." Initially, Shmuel felt that their request was spurning the centuries-old tradition of informal leadership, with no king but G-d. Nevertheless, with G-d's encouragement, he anointed Shaul, an impressive yet humble man from the tribe of Binyamin. In time, Shmuel became personally invested in Shaul's success. As king, Shaul succeeded in freeing the Jewish People from the yoke of the oppressive Plishtim and in raising a standing army across tribal boundaries. This fulfilled the pre-requisite that the Torah listed for the commandment of wiping out Amalek, as stated in Parshat Zachor: "And it will be, when G-d has given you respite from the enemies that surround you."

The Haftarah begins with the prophet Shmuel telling King Shaul that the time has come to fulfill the commandment to wipe out the memory of Amalek. This battle is meant to be a complete and total victory; moreover, as a battle of G-d, the spoils belong to Him, and the fighters may not take anything for themselves.

1) Shmuel said to Shaul:

"Hashem had sent me to anoint you as king

over his people, over Israel.

Therefore, listen

to Hashem's voice.

(א) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל

אֹתִי שָׁלַח ה' לִמְשָׁחֳךָ לְמֶלֶךְ

עַל עַמּוֹ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל

וְעַתָּה שְׁמַע

לְקוֹל דִּבְרֵי ה': ס

2) For so said Hashem Tzva-ot:

"I recall what Amalek did to Israel,

that he raided him on the road,

when he went up from Egypt.

(ב) כֹּה אָמַר ה' צְבָא-וֹת

פָּקַדְתִּי אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עֲמָלֵק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל

אֲשֶׁר שָׂם לוֹ בַּדֶּרֶךְ

בַּעֲלֹתוֹ מִמִּצְרָיִם:

3) Now go, and fight Amalek,

and lay waste to everything that he has,

and do not spare him;

kill every man and woman,

child and infant,

ox and sheep,

camel and donkey. "

(ג) עַתָּה לֵךְ וְהִכִּיתָה אֶת עֲמָלֵק

וְהַחֲרַמְתֶּם אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ

וְלֹא תַחְמֹל עָלָיו

וְהֵמַתָּה מֵאִישׁ עַד אִשָּׁה

מֵעֹלֵל וְעַד יוֹנֵק

מִשּׁוֹר וְעַד שֶׂה

מִגָּמָל וְעַד חֲמוֹר: ס

King Shaul gathers a sizeable army, and prepares to fight Amalek. He warns the descendants of Yitro, the Keini, who were allied with the Jewish People, to move away, so that they would not become collateral damage in the sacking of the city. (According to several commentators, as per Halacha, individual Amalekites were also given the chance to escape before the battle started.)

4) Shaul summoned the people;

he counted them in Telaim,

200,000 footmen,

and 10,000 men of Yehuda.

(ד) וַיְשַׁמַּע שָׁאוּל אֶת הָעָם

וַיִּפְקְדֵם בַּטְּלָאִים

מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף רַגְלִי

וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אֶת אִישׁ יְהוּדָה:

5) Shaul came to the city of Amalek,

and arranged the troops over the valley.

(ה) וַיָּבֹא שָׁאוּל עַד עִיר עֲמָלֵק

וַיָּרֶב בַּנָּחַל:

6) Shaul said to the Keini,

"Go, leave, get away from the Amaleki,

so that I will not reap you along with him;

and you had done kindness to all of Bnei Yisrael

when they went up from Egypt."

The Keini departed from among the Amaleki.

(ו) וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל הַקֵּינִי

לְכוּ סֻּרוּ רְדוּ מִתּוֹךְ עֲמָלֵקִי

פֶּן אֹסִפְךָ עִמּוֹ

וְאַתָּה עָשִׂיתָה חֶסֶד עִם כָּל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

בַּעֲלוֹתָם מִמִּצְרָיִם

וַיָּסַר קֵינִי מִתּוֹךְ עֲמָלֵק:

King Shaul's battle is successful, and they win a decisive victory over all Amalekite strongholds in the area. However, the people chose not to destroy the king of Amalek, nor the better quality spoils.

7) Shaul smote Amalek,

from Havila until Shur,

which is near Egypt.

(ז) וַיַּךְ שָׁאוּל אֶת עֲמָלֵק

מֵחֲוִילָה בּוֹאֲךָ שׁוּר

אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי מִצְרָיִם:

8) He captured Agag, King of Amalek, alive;

but he did laid waste to all the people, by the sword.

(ח) וַיִּתְפֹּשׂ אֶת אֲגַג מֶלֶךְ עֲמָלֵק חָי

וְאֶת כָּל הָעָם הֶחֱרִים לְפִי חָרֶב:

9) Shaul and the people spared Agag,

and the best of the sheep,

the cattle, the fatlings, the lambs, and all the good stuff,

and did not want to lay waste to them,

but all the artifacts of poor quality, to that they laid waste.

(ט) וַיַּחְמֹל שָׁאוּל וְהָעָם עַל אֲגָג

וְעַל מֵיטַב הַצֹּאן

וְהַבָּקָר וְהַמִּשְׁנִים וְעַל הַכָּרִים וְעַל כָּל הַטּוֹב

וְלֹא אָבוּ הַחֲרִימָם

וְכָל הַמְּלָאכָה נְמִבְזָה וְנָמֵס אֹתָהּ הֶחֱרִימוּ: פ

G-d is not happy. When they had first asked for a king, He had warned them that the only way this political model would succeed is if the king were subordinate to G-d, and would use his power to encourage the Jewish People to keep His commandments. If the king himself ignores straightforward and explicit commandments and misunderstands the nature of the war with Amalek, what hope is there? Shaul will not be permitted to establish a dynasty of kings.

Shmuel is distraught to hear this, and begs G-d to give Shaul another chance. But G-d does not relent and Shmuel has no choice but fulfill His directions. Shaul meanwhile has been making himself self-congratulatory monuments; he does not even realize that something is wrong.

10) Hashem's word came

to Shmuel as follows:

(י) וַיְהִי דְּבַר ה'

אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל לֵאמֹר:

11) "I regret

that I made Shaul king.

For he turned back from following Me,

and did not fulfill My word."

Shmuel was terribly upset;

he cried out to Hashem all night.

(יא) נִחַמְתִּי

כִּי הִמְלַכְתִּי אֶת שָׁאוּל לְמֶלֶךְ

כִּי שָׁב מֵאַחֲרַי

וְאֶת דְּבָרַי לֹא הֵקִים

וַיִּחַר לִשְׁמוּאֵל

וַיִּזְעַק אֶל ה' כָּל הַלָּיְלָה:

12) Shmuel rose early in the morning to go to Shaul,

Shmuel was told,

Shaul came to the Carmel and made himself a monument,

he turned back and crossed over,

and went down to the Gilgal.

(יב) וַיַּשְׁכֵּם שְׁמוּאֵל לִקְרַאת שָׁאוּל בַּבֹּקֶר

וַיֻּגַּד לִשְׁמוּאֵל לֵאמֹר

בָּא שָׁאוּל הַכַּרְמֶלָה וְהִנֵּה מַצִּיב לוֹ יָד

וַיִּסֹּב וַיַּעֲבֹר

וַיֵּרֶד הַגִּלְגָּל:

Shmuel finally encounters King Shaul, who is still on a high from having fulfilled the commandment to wipe out the memory of Amalek, as he believes. When Shmuel asks about the sounds of the animals in the camp, Shaul is delighted to tell him that the people decided to keep some in order to sacrifice them to Hashem.

13) Shmuel came to Shaul,

Shaul said to him,

"Blessed are you to Hashem!

I have fulfilled Hashem's word!"

(יג) וַיָּבֹא שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ שָׁאוּל

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה לַה'

הֲקִימֹתִי אֶת דְּבַר ה':

14) Shmuel said,

"And what's this sound of sheep in my ears

and the sound of oxen

that I hear?"

(יד) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל

וּמֶה קוֹל הַצֹּאן הַזֶּה בְּאָזְנָי

וְקוֹל הַבָּקָר

אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי שֹׁמֵעַ:

15) Shaul said, "They brought them from the Amaleki,

as the people spared the best of the sheep and cattle,

in order to sacrifice to Hashem Your G-d,

and the rest we have laid waste."

(טו) וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל מֵעֲמָלֵקִי הֱבִיאוּם

אֲשֶׁר חָמַל הָעָם עַל מֵיטַב הַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר

לְמַעַן זְבֹחַ לַה' אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ

וְאֶת הַיּוֹתֵר הֶחֱרַמְנוּ: ס

[Ed: The text now shows a paragraph break, even though we are in the middle of a conversation. It will not tell us how Shmuel feels after hearing Shaul say what he said; instead, it leaves white space for us to fill in. This will happen several times in this highly emotional conversation between Shaul and Shmuel. I will mark it thus: <pause>, to show that it is not my decision to break between the verses for clarity, but rather the text itself is displayed in this manner. We are literally being asked to read between the lines.]

After this pause, Shmuel draws Shaul aside to tell him what G-d really thinks about what he has done.

16) Shmuel said to Shaul,

"One moment, and I'll tell you

what Hashem said to me last night."

He said to him, "Tell me."

(טז) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל

הֶרֶף וְאַגִּידָה לְּךָ

אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' אֵלַי הַלָּיְלָה

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ דַּבֵּר: ס

<pause>

So Shmuel tells him what his fatal error was, prefacing it with his interpretation of the source of Shaul's failure: a paralyzing, unhealthy humility, entirely inappropriate for a leader.

17) Shmuel said,

"Even if you are small in your own eyes,

you are the head of the tribes of Israel!

Hashem has made you king over Israel.

(יז) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל

הֲלוֹא אִם קָטֹן אַתָּה בְּעֵינֶיךָ

רֹאשׁ שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָתָּה

וַיִּמְשָׁחֲךָ ה' לְמֶלֶךְ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

18) Hashem sent you on this path,

He said,

"Go, and destroy the sinners, Amalek,

and fight them,

until you wipe them out."

(יח) וַיִּשְׁלָחֲךָ ה' בְּדָרֶךְ

וַיֹּאמֶר

לֵךְ וְהַחֲרַמְתָּה אֶת הַחַטָּאִים אֶת עֲמָלֵק

וְנִלְחַמְתָּ בוֹ

עַד כַּלּוֹתָם אֹתָם:

19) And why did you not listen to the voice of Hashem?

You strayed to the loot,

you have done evil in the eyes of Hashem!"

(יט) וְלָמָּה לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקוֹל ה'

וַתַּעַט אֶל הַשָּׁלָל

וַתַּעַשׂ הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי ה': ס

<pause>

Shaul protests his innocence. It wasn't him, it was "the people", and all they wanted was to bring sacrifices, what could be wrong with that?

20) Shaul said to Shmuel,

"But I did listen to Hashem's voice!

I did go on the path that Hashem sent me!

I brought Agag, king of Amalek,

and I laid waste to Amalek.

(כ) וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל

אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתִּי בְּקוֹל ה'

וָאֵלֵךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר שְׁלָחַנִי ה'

וָאָבִיא אֶת אֲגַג מֶלֶךְ עֲמָלֵק

וְאֶת עֲמָלֵק הֶחֱרַמְתִּי:

21) The people took from the loot,

some sheep, cattle, the best of the forbidden,

to sacrifice to Hashem, your G-d, in Gilgal."

(כא) וַיִּקַּח הָעָם מֵהַשָּׁלָל

צֹאן וּבָקָר רֵאשִׁית הַחֵרֶם

לִזְבֹּחַ לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בַּגִּלְגָּל:

Shmuel explains to him the difference between appeasing a god, and doing the will of Hashem. Sacrifices are not magic ways to manipulate a deity. G-d expected him to listen, and he failed to do so. Shaul cannot continue to be king.

22) Shmuel said,

"Does Hashem desire offerings and sacrifices

as much as listening to the voice of Hashem?

Listening is better than sacrifices,

paying heed than the fat of rams.

(כב) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל

הַחֵפֶץ לַה' בְּעֹלוֹת וּזְבָחִים

כִּשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹל ה'

הִנֵּה שְׁמֹעַ מִזֶּבַח טוֹב

לְהַקְשִׁיב מֵחֵלֶב אֵילִים:

23) For rebellion is the sin of magic,

and evil and divination is stubbornness.

Because you rejected Hashem's word,

He has rejected you from being king."

(כג) כִּי חַטַּאת קֶסֶם מֶרִי

וְאָוֶן וּתְרָפִים הַפְצַר

יַעַן מָאַסְתָּ אֶת דְּבַר ה'

וַיִּמְאָסְךָ מִמֶּלֶךְ: ס

<pause>

Shaul finally admits his guilt, but nevertheless asks Shmuel to cover for him in front of the people by standing with him at the ceremonies. Shmuel refuses.

24) Shaul said to Shmuel, "I have sinned,

I have transgressed the word of Hashem, and your words,

for I was afraid of the people,

and listened to their voice.

(כד) וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל חָטָאתִי

כִּי עָבַרְתִּי אֶת פִּי ה' וְאֶת דְּבָרֶיךָ

כִּי יָרֵאתִי אֶת הָעָם

וָאֶשְׁמַע בְּקוֹלָם:

25) But now, please pardon my sin,

and come back with me,

and I will bow to Hashem."

(כה) וְעַתָּה שָׂא נָא אֶת חַטָּאתִי

וְשׁוּב עִמִּי

וְאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לַה':

26) Shmuel said to Shaul,

"I will not come back with you,

for you have rejected Hashem's word,

and Hashem has rejected you,

from being king over Israel."

(כו) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל

לֹא אָשׁוּב עִמָּךְ

כִּי מָאַסְתָּה אֶת דְּבַר ה'

וַיִּמְאָסְךָ ה'

מִהְיוֹת מֶלֶךְ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל: ס

<pause>

As Shmuel turns away, Shaul grabs on to him and tears his coat. Shmuel points to this as a symbol of the loss of the monarchy: G-d will give the kingdom to someone else, and this decision is final. Shaul begs Shmuel not to humiliate him publicly by leaving before the ceremonies begin. Shmuel does agree to this, and attends with Shaul.

27) Shmuel turned to go,

he grabbed the wing of his coat and it tore.

(כז) וַיִּסֹּב שְׁמוּאֵל לָלֶכֶת

וַיַּחֲזֵק בִּכְנַף מְעִילוֹ וַיִּקָּרַע:

28) Shmuel said to him,

"Hashem tore the kingdom of Israel from you today,

and has given it to a better man than you.

(כח) וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו שְׁמוּאֵל

קָרַע ה' אֶת מַמְלְכוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעָלֶיךָ הַיּוֹם

וּנְתָנָהּ לְרֵעֲךָ הַטּוֹב מִמֶּךָּ:

29) And also, the Eternal of Israel,

does not lie, and does not change His mind,

for He is not a person to change his mind."

(כט) וְגַם נֵצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל

לֹא יְשַׁקֵּר וְלֹא יִנָּחֵם

כִּי לֹא אָדָם הוּא לְהִנָּחֵם:

30) He said, "I have sinned!

Now honor me

before the elders of my people and before Israel,

and come back with me,

and I will bow to Hashem, your G-d."

(ל) וַיֹּאמֶר חָטָאתִי

עַתָּה כַּבְּדֵנִי נָא

נֶגֶד זִקְנֵי עַמִּי וְנֶגֶד יִשְׂרָאֵל

וְשׁוּב עִמִּי

וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֵיתִי לַה' אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ:

31) Shmuel came back behind Shaul,

and Shaul bowed to Hashem.

(לא) וַיָּשָׁב שְׁמוּאֵל אַחֲרֵי שָׁאוּל

וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ שָׁאוּל לַה': ס

Shmuel himself goes to deal with Agag, the king of Amalek. Agag is relieved to see Shmuel, assuming that the sweet old prophet cannot possibly harm him.

32) Shmuel said,

"Bring me Agag, king of Amalek!"

Agag came to him cheerfully;

Agag said, "Looks like the bitterness of death has passed."

(לב) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל

הַגִּישׁוּ אֵלַי אֶת אֲגַג מֶלֶךְ עֲמָלֵק

וַיֵּלֶךְ אֵלָיו אֲגַג מַעֲדַנֹּת

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲגָג אָכֵן סָר מַר הַמָּוֶת: ס

<pause>

He is mistaken. Shmuel announces the judgment of the execution of Agag for his evil deeds, and beheads him.

33) Shmuel said,

"Just as your sword made women childless,

so, too, your mother will be childless among women!"

Shmuel beheaded Agag before Hashem in the Gilgal.

(לג) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל

כַּאֲשֶׁר שִׁכְּלָה נָשִׁים חַרְבֶּךָ

כֵּן תִּשְׁכַּל מִנָּשִׁים אִמֶּךָ

וַיְשַׁסֵּף שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת אֲגָג לִפְנֵי ה' בַּגִּלְגָּל: ס

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Shmuel and Shaul each go back home. But nothing is the same.

34) Shmuel went to the Rama;

and Shaul went up to his house in Givat Shaul.

(לד) וַיֵּלֶךְ שְׁמוּאֵל הָרָמָתָה

וְשָׁאוּל עָלָה אֶל בֵּיתוֹ גִּבְעַת שָׁאוּל:

Postscript: Shaul officially remained king for the duration of his own lifetime, but his sons died in battle, and did not inherit the throne. Instead, David became king, and succeeded in establishing a lasting dynasty of leaders who did the right thing in G-d's eyes.

In memory of my father, Peter Rozenberg, z"l

לעילוי נשמת אבי מורי פנחס בן נתן נטע ז''ל