Commissions are open now from June 4 - September 8.
Citations are in Chicago style.
Sources on Shaul
Sources for the history
Citations for mature content (content warning: suicide, medical gore)
Amit, Yairah. “Judges Introduction and Annotations.” In The Jewish Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and
Marc Zvi Brettler, 495–544. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Arnold, Bill T. "The Amalekite's report of Saul's death: political intrigue or incompatible sources?." Journal
of the Evangelical Theological Society 32, no. 3 (1989): 289-289.
Avioz, Michael. "Saul as a just judge in Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews." Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 8
(2008): 2.
Baden, Joel S. The historical David: the real life of an invented hero. HarperOne, 2013.
Bar, Shaul. God’s First King: The Story of Saul. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2013.
Bar, Shaul. The Samson Story: Love, Seduction, Betrayal, Violence, Riddles, Myth. Wipf and Stock
Publishers, 2018.
Bar, Shaul. "The Death of Samson." Old Testament Essays 33, no. 1 (2020): 162-174.
Bar-Efrat, Shimon. “First Samuel Introductions and Annotations.” In The Jewish Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 545–604. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Bar-Efrat, Shimon. “Second Samuel Introductions and Annotations.” In The Jewish Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 605–52. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Ben-Noun, Liubov. "What was the mental disease that afflicted King Saul?." Clinical Case Studies 2, no. 4
(2003): 270-282.
Ben-Nun, Liubov. "KING SAUL: DEATH OF DESPAIR." (2003).
Berlin, Adele. “Esther Introductions and Annotations.” In The Jewish Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 1619–34. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Bezzel, Hannes. "The numerous deaths of King Saul." Is Samuel Among the Deuteronomists? Current
Views on the Place of Samuel in a Deuteronomistic History (2013): 325-47.
Bickersteth, Patrick. "What Is a Reasonable Framework in Which to Understand the Captivating Behavior
of Saul, Ancient Israel’s First King?." Open Journal of Philosophy 13, no. 2 (2023): 302-319.
Brockman, Andrew. The Downfall of Saul: A Study on 1 Samuel 15: 1-16: 13 & 28: 3-25. McGill University
(Canada), 2022.
Brooks, Simcha Shalom. "Saul and the Samson Narrative." Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 21,
no. 71 (1996): 19-25.
Brooks, Simcha Shalom. King Saul: A re-examination of his reign and its effects on Israel down to the
schism. University of London, University College London (United Kingdom), 1998.
Ehrlich, Carl S., and Marsha C. White, eds. Saul in story and tradition. Vol. 47. Mohr Siebeck, 2006.
Felman, Talia. "An Unexpected Leader: A Psychiatric Analysis of King Saul." DERECH HATEVA: 20.
Germany, Stephen. "Saul and David, Israel and Judah: The Book of Samuel as Paradigmatic History."
Vetus Testamentum 73, no. 4-5 (2022): 546-566.
GORDON, CYRUS H. “HOMER AND BIBLE: The Origin and Character of East Mediterranean Literature.”
Hebrew Union College Annual 26 (1955): 43–108. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23506150.
Grimell, Jan. "Contemporary insights from Biblical combat veterans through the lenses of moral injury and
post-traumatic stress disorder." Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling 72, no. 4 (2018): 241-250.
Halpern, Baruch. David's secret demons: messiah, murderer, traitor, king. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing,
2003.
Hayes, Christine. 2025. “RLST 145 - Lecture 13 - the Deuteronomistic History: Prophets and Kings (1 and
2 Samuel) | Open Yale Courses.” Yale.edu. Yale University. 2025. https://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/
rlst-145/lecture-13.
Hilbert, Benjamin DH. "Joseph’s Dreams, Part One: From Abimelech to Saul." Journal for the Study of the
Old Testament 35, no. 3 (2011): 259-283.
Hilbert, Benjamin DH. "Joseph’s Dreams, Part Two: From Saul to Solomon." Journal for the Study of the
Old Testament 35, no. 4 (2011): 435-461.
Lerner, Berel Dov. "SAUL AND GENOCIDE." Jewish Bible Quarterly Dor le Dor 42, no. 1 (2014).
Mazar, Amihai. "The Beth Shean Valley and its vicinity in the 10th century BCE." Jerusalem Journal of
Archaeology 1 (2021): 241-71.
Nicholson, Sarah. "Three Faces of Saul." (2002): 1-282.
Ofer, Rachel. "A Wicked Witch or a Good Psychotherapist? The Medium of Endor in Modern Hebrew Literature." Hebrew Studies 62, no. 1 (2021): 181-205.
Rosen, George. "Is Saul also among the Prophets?." Gesnerus 23, no. 1-2 (1966): 132-146.
Segal, Moses Hirsch. "The Composition of the Books of Samuel." The Jewish Quarterly Review 55, no. 4 (1965): 318-339.
Urban, Martina. "Retelling Biblical Mythos through the Hasidic Tale: Buber's" Saul and David" and the
Question of Leadership." Modern Judaism 24, no. 1 (2004): 59-78.
Williams, Gillian P., and Magdel Le Roux. "King Saul's mysterious malady." HTS: Theological Studies 68,
no. 1 (2012): 1-6.
Willis, John T. "Cultic elements in the story of Samuel's birth and dedication." Studia Theologica 26, no. 1
(1972): 33-61.
Zeligs, Dorothy F. "Saul, the Tragic King: Part One." American Imago 14, no. 1 (1957): 61-85.
Brettler, Professor Marc Levi. n.d. “Megillat Esther: Reversing the Legacy of King Saul - TheTorah.com.”
Www.thetorah.com. Project Torah and Biblical Scholarship. https://www.thetorah.com/article/megillat-
esther-reversing-the-legacy-of-king-saul.
Carmel, Rabbi Yossef. 2025. “Judaism, Lessons, Times | Yeshiva.co.” Yeshiva Site. 2025. https://
www.yeshiva.co/midrash/7184.
Diamond, James A. 2024. “King Saul’s Downfall: Sight and Sound: Sight and Sound - TheTorah.com.”
Thetorah.com. Project Torah and Biblical Scholarship. 2024. https://www.thetorah.com/article/king-sauls-
downfall-sight-and-sound.
Hawk, L Daniel. 2023. “Saul as Sacrifice - the BAS Library.” The BAS Library. Biblical Archaeological
Society. 2023. https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/saul-as-sacrifice.
Howald, Michael. 2016. “Is Saul Also among the Prophets? | Sefaria.” Sefaria.org. 2016. https://
www.sefaria.org/sheets/31604?lang=bi.
Klitsner, Shmuel. 2024. “Literary Parallels in Bereishit 34-38 and 1 Samuel - TheTorah.com.”
Thetorah.com. Project Torah and Biblical Scholarship. 2024. https://www.thetorah.com/article/literary-
parallels-bereishit-samuel.
Kugler, Gigi. 2022. “Amalek: A Pawn in the Rivalry between Saul and David’s Legacy - TheTorah.com.”
Thetorah.com. Project Torah and Biblical Scholarship. 2022. https://www.thetorah.com/article/amalek-a-
pawn-in-the-rivalry-between-saul-and-davids-legacy.
Laxer, Shimon Yaakov, and FHJC Haftorah Series. 2020. “A Kingmaker Is Born | Sefaria.” Sefaria.org.
Sefaria. 2020. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/263443?lang=bi.
Levin, Yigal. 2022. “The Precursors of the Ark - TheTorah.com.” Thetorah.com. Project Torah and Biblical
Scholarship. 2022. https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-precursors-of-the-ark.
Lichtenstein, Harav Mosheh. 2018. “Shaul and Amalek | Yeshivat Har Etzion.” Yeshivat Har Etzion. March
25, 2018. https://www.etzion.org.il/en/tanakh/torah/sefer-vayikra/parashat-vayikra/shaul-and-amalek.
Michael, Nathaniel. 2020. “Too Much of a Good King: A Judges-Informed Assessment of Saul.” Dialogismos 4: 47–67. https://ddtjogezxr16i.cloudfront.net/images/Article-Michael-
Dialogismos-4.2020-1.pdf.
Milstein, Sara. 2017. “The Story of the Concubine at Gibeah: A Satire on King Saul - TheTorah.com.”
Thetorah.com. Project Torah and Biblical Scholarship. 2017. https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-story-
of-the-concubine-at-gibeah-a-satire-on-king-saul.
Steinsaltz, Adin Even-Israel. 2010. “Saul: The Dangerous Innocence.” Myjli.com. The Rohr Jewish
Learning Institute. 2010. https://lessons.myjli.com/strength/index.php/2016/05/05/saul-the-dangerous-
innocence/.
Wein, Berel. 2009. “Saul: The First King.” Jewish History | We Bring Jewish History to Life. Jewish History.
March 5, 2009. https://www.jewishhistory.org/saul-the-first-king.
Wright, Jacob L. 2018. “Honoring the Death of Soldiers - TheTorah.com.” Thetorah.com. Project Torah and
Biblical Scholarship. 2018. https://www.thetorah.com/article/honoring-the-death-of-soldiers.
Amar, Zohar, Hugo Gottlieb, Lucy Varshavsky, and David Iluz. "The scarlet dye of the Holy Land."
BioScience 55, no. 12 (2005): 1080-1083.
Bergman, Ben Zion. “Biblical Religion and Law: Civil and Criminal Law.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and
Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1423–27. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society,
2002.
Borowski, Oded. “Biblical Ideas and Institutions: Daily Life in Biblical Times.” In The Jewish Study Bible,
edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 2005–11. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford University
Press, 2014.
Dorff, Elliot N. “Biblical Religion and Law: Justice.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, edited by David
L. Lieber, 1427–30. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society, 2002.
Finkelstein, Israel. "A Low Chronology Update." The Bible and Radiocarbon Dating (2014): 31.
Freeman, Gordon M. “Biblical Life and Perspectives: Israelite Society in Transition.” In Etz Hayim: Torah
and Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1348–52. New York, New York: Jewish Publication
Society, 2002.
Gillman, Neil. “Biblical Religion and Law: Eschatology.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, edited by
David L. Lieber, 1434–39. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society, 2002.
Gorner, Aaron BY. "Mazar's Modified Chronology: The Preservation of Solomonic Possibilities." (2023).
Graetz, Heinrich, and Philip Bloch. (1891a) 1891. “David.” In History of the Jews, 1:125–55. Philadelphia:
Jewish Publication Society of America. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/43056/pg43056-
images.html#CHAPTER_VIII.
Graetz, Heinrich, and Philip Bloch. (1891b) 1891. “David and Ishbosheth.” In History of the Jews, 1:106–
24. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/43056/
pg43056-images.html#CHAPTER_VII.
Graetz, Heinrich, and Philip Bloch. (1891c) 1891. “Eli and Samuel.” In History of the Jews, 1:68–81.
Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/43056/
pg43056-images.html#CHAPTER_V.
Graetz, Heinrich, and Philip Bloch. (1891d) 1891. “The Apogee.” In History of the Jews, 1:82–105.
Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/43056/
pg43056-images.html#CHAPTER_VI.
Graetz, Heinrich, and Philip Bloch. (1891e) 1891. “The Judges.” In History of the Jews, 1:60–67.
Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/43056/
pg43056-images.html#CHAPTER_IV.
Graetz, Michael. “Biblical Life and Perspectives: War and Peace.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary,
edited by David L. Lieber, 1382–89. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society, 2002.
Hauptman, Judith. “Biblical Life and Perspectives: Women.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary,
edited by David L. Lieber, 1356–59. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society, 2002.
Jacobson, Michael. 2021. “The Sudra: A Connection to Pre-Islamic Jewish Culture.” Harimon.co.uk.
HaRimon. August 3, 2021. https://www.harimon.co.uk/essay/2021/08/03/the-sudra/.
Koren, Zvi C. "The colors and dyes on ancient textiles in Israel." Colors from Nature: Natural Colors in
Ancient Times (1993): 15-31.
Kobyliansky, E., T. Balueva, E. Veselovskaya, and B. Arensburg. "Facial Image of Biblical Jews from
Israel." Anthropologischer anzeiger (2008): 167-190.
Lechtman, Debbie. “The Sudra.” Roots Metals, Roots Metals, 2 Nov. 2021, www.rootsmetals.com/blogs/
news/the-sudra. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Leek, Rodney Thomas. "The development of iron technology in the Mediterranean Bronze Age." Master's
thesis, 2014.
Levine, Lee I. “Biblical Life and Perspectives: Biblical Archaeology.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and
Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1339–44. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society,
2002.
Lieber, David L. “Biblical Religion and Law: The Covenant and the Election of Israel.” In Etz Hayim: Torah
and Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1416–20. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society,
2002.
Levine, Baruch A. “Biblical Ideas and Institutions: Biblical Festivals and Fast Days.” In The Jewish Study
Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 2025–34. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford
University Press, 2014.
Lipshits, Oded. “Backgrounds for Reading the Bible: The History of Israel in the Biblical Period.” In The
Jewish Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 2107–18. Oxford ; New York, New York:
Oxford University Press, 2014.
Maeir, Aren M. “Backgrounds for Reading the Bible: Archaeology and the Hebrew Bible.” In The Jewish
Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 2124–36. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford
University Press, 2014.
Meirovich, Henry. “Biblical Religion and Law: Reward and Punishment.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and
Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1430–34. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society,
2002.
Oxford Cartographers. “The Land of Israel: Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel.” Oxford Bible Atlas. New York, New
York: Jewish Publication Society, 2014.
Oxford Cartographers. “The Land of Israel: 2 Samuel - 1 Kings.” Oxford Bible Atlas. New York, New York:
Jewish Publication Society, 2014.
Pareja, Marie Nicole, Phillip P. Betancourt, Vili Apostolakou, Thomas M. Brogan, and Andrew J. Koh.
2017. “Aegean Dyes: Unearthing the Colors of Ancient Minoan Textiles.” Expedition, 2017. https://
www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/aegean-dyes/.
Paul, Shalom M. “Biblical Religion and Law: Prophecy and Prophets.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and
Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1407–12. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society,
2002.
Rembaum, Joel. “Biblical Life and Perspectives: Dealing with Strangers: Relations with Gentiles at Home
and Abroad.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1377–82. New York, New
York: Jewish Publication Society, 2002.
Rosenthal, Gilvert S. “Biblical Life and Perspectives: Marriage and Family.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and
Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1353–55. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society,
2002.
Sarna, Nahum. “Biblical Religion and Law: Biblical and near Eastern Law.” In Etz Hayim: Torah and
Commentary, edited by David L. Lieber, 1420–23. New York, New York: Jewish Publication Society,
2002.
Sasson, Jack M. “Backgrounds for Reading the Bible: On the Bible and the Ancient near East.” In The
Jewish Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 2137–43. Oxford ; New York, New York:
Oxford University Press, 2014.
Seevers, Boyd. Warfare in the Old Testament: The Organization, Weapons, and Tactics of Ancient Near
Eastern Armies. Kregel Academic, 2013.
Shaked, Or. “Timeline of Ancient Israelite Religion.” Jewishvirtuallibrary.org, Jewish Virtual Library,
www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/timeline-of-ancient-israelite-religion-2000-539-bce. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
Stern, Sacha. “Biblical Ideas and Institutions: Biblical Calendars.” In The Jewish Study Bible, edited by
Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 2021–24. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford University Press,
2014.
Sukenik, Naama, David Iluz, Zohar Amar, Alexander Varvak, and Shay Bar. "New evidence of the purple‐
dye industry at Tel Shiqmona, Israel." Archaeometry 59, no. 4 (2017): 775-785.
Sukenik, Naama, David Iluz, Zohar Amar, Alexander Varvak, Orit Shamir, and Erez Ben-Yosef. "Early
evidence of royal purple dyed textile from Timna Valley (Israel)." Plos one 16, no. 1 (2021): e0245897.
Sweeney, Marvin A. “Biblical Ideas and Institutions: Historical and Ideal Davidic Kingship.” In The Jewish
Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 2035–40. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford
University Press, 2014.
The Archery Historian. 2019. “The Evolution of the Bow and Arrow.” Archery Historian. Archery Historian.
January 20, 2019. https://archeryhistorian.com/archery-history-the-evolution-of-the-bow-and-arrow/.
The Archery Historian. 2020. “Types of Arrows - from the Stone Ages to Today - Archery Historian.”
Archery Historian. Archery Historian. February 14, 2020. https://archeryhistorian.com/types-of-arrows/.
Veldhuijzen, Harald Alexander. "Early iron production in the Levant: Smelting and smithing at early 1st
millennium BC Tell Hammeh, Jordan, and Tel Beth-Shemesh, Israel." PhD diss., University of London,
University College London (United Kingdom), 2006.
Wright, Jacob L. “Biblical Ideas and Institutions: War and Peace in the Bible.” In The Jewish Study Bible,
edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, 2035–40. Oxford ; New York, New York: Oxford University
Press, 2014.
Yahalom-Mack, Naama, and Adi Eliyahu-Behar. "The transition from bronze to iron in Canaan: chronology,
technology, and context." Radiocarbon 57, no. 2 (2015): 285-305.