NACH 10 – Shmuel Aleph 9-15 – The Reign of Shaul HaMelech

Shmuel Aleph – The Reign of Shaul HaMelech – Teshuvah vs. Despair – Harp of Dovid HaMelech – Never Lose Hope – Speaker: Rabbi Zvi Aryeh Rosenfeld zal.
00:00 – The special qualities of Shaul HaMelech were purity of mind and humility. In pursuit of lost donkeys, he met Shmuel HaNavi.
03:35 – In our day, it’s customary to seek advice from a chassidic Rebbe and donating a gift as expression of respect (presentation of a “kvitel“).
07:00 – When Shaul was told that he will be king of Israel, Shmuel instructs him to look up at the sky to strengthen his yiras shemayaim (reverence for HaShem).
10:00 – The meaning of the expression “Shaul is also among the prophets?” Shaul was anointed king. A king of Israel may not negate the honor due him.
13:00 – When Nachash King of Ammon threatened the Jewish community of Yavesh Gilad, Shaul destroyed the army of Ammon.
19:00 – Shmuel reprimanded Am Yisrael for having faith in a king rather than having faith in HaShem. Shaul led the People to do teshuvah by praying before defending themselves against the Philistines. An act of disrespect toward Shmuel HaNavi caused Shaul to lose the kingdom.
25:00 – Yonasan, the son of Shaul, succeeded in a valiant and shrewd attack on the enemy.
*30:00 – Shaul HaMelech failed to wipe out the entire nation of Amalek because he allowed their king, Agog, to live, so Shmuel HaNavi executed Agog himself.
38:00 – The Gemara questions the strictness of Shmuel’s judgment. Shaul HaMelech might have done teshuvah and been forgiven but he fell into despair and was therefore not able to do teshuvah.
43:00 – The music of Dovid HaMelech’s harp soothed the despair of Shaul. Sipurey Maasios – Rebbe Nachman’s Story of the Seventh Beggar: the princess and the castle of water.
45:00 – Never lose hope.