The War Against the Philistines

This episode begins with the first King of Israel, King Shaul, in an existential fight against the coast-dwelling and sea-going Philistines (Plishtim). In engaging in this desperate and apparently hopeless battle, Shaul grapples with the proper way to relate to prophesy, in this case the prophesy of Shmuel. He also grapples with the proper way to respond to the people's will, the demos in Greek, a forerunner of the tension between leadership and the popular will. The Kings of Israel, through the eyes of the tradition that remembers them. Write us at [email protected] and support us at thekingsofisraelpod.