Shaul's Advisors

Tanakh

וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֤ט שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י חַיָּֽיו׃

"Sh'muel led Israel as judge all the days of his life:" — Sh'muel Aleph (Samuel I) 7:14; 1995 Schocken Bible Everett Fox translation

Talmud, Midrash, and Commentary

Date Finished:

January 4, 2025

Description

Sh'muel HaNavi comes from Epharimite lands and served as the last judge of Israel and the kingmaker for the first two major kings of Israel: Shaul and David. His parents were the Levite Elkanah and the Ephraimite Chana, and his ancestor was Korach. Chana's prayer and its miraculous fulfillment created Sh'muel and and his lifespan was always tied to Hashem. Mostly raised by Eli, he ruled the land wisely unlike Eli's sons, but Sh'muel's two sons did not follow in his ways. This along with internal pressures and the external Philistine pressure prompted the Israelites to request a king.

Name

Sh'muel (שְׁמוּאֵל֙) has a couple meanings with the most basic being "his name is El." His mother's explanation is his name means "I asked of Hashem" and "lent-on-request to Hashem" with the root of sh'al forming the center of the story. Notably Shaul and Sh'muel have the same root at their name's heart. In a sense, Hashem lent both of them out. When one died, the other followed soon after within 4 months (Seder Olam Rabbah). Sh'muel's name also has the sounds of the Shema (a central prayer for the Jews), but also a root meaning to "heed/listen/obey/yield/grant request/agree." He alludes to the obedience meaning heavily when rebuking Shaul for sparing the Amalekite animals during Haftarah Zachor.

Tanakh

וְכִרְא֨וֹת שָׁא֜וּל אֶת־דָּוִ֗ד יֹצֵא֙ לִקְרַ֣את הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י אָמַ֗ר אֶל־אַבְנֵר֙ שַׂ֣ר הַצָּבָ֔א בֶּן־מִי־זֶ֥ה הַנַּ֖עַר אַבְנֵ֑ר וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְנֵ֔ר חֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֥ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אִם־יָדָֽעְתִּי׃

"Now when Sha'ul saw David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Avner, commander of the armed forces: 'Whose son is this lad Avner?' Avner said, 'As you live, O king, if I know...'" — Sh'muel I 17:55; 1995 Schocken Bible Everett Fox translation

Talmud, Midrash, and Commentary

מַאי טַעְמָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ שַׁאֵל עֲלֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ שָׁאוּל אֶת דָּוִד מַדָּיו״, כְּמִדָּתוֹ. וּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ בְּשָׁאוּל: ״מִשִּׁכְמוֹ וָמַעְלָה גָּבוֹהַּ מִכׇּל הָעָם״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ דּוֹאֵג הָאֲדוֹמִי: עַד שֶׁאַתָּה מְשַׁאֵיל עָלָיו אִם הָגוּן הוּא לַמַּלְכוּת אִם לָאו, שְׁאַל עָלָיו אִם רָאוּי לָבֹא בַּקָּהָל אִם לָאו. מַאי טַעְמָא? דְּקָאָתֵי מֵרוּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּה. 

"The Gemara continues with its explanation: For what reason did Saul say to Abner that he should inquire about David? As it is written: “And Saul clad David with his apparel [maddav]” (I Samuel 17:38), which indicates that the clothes were of David’s size [kemiddato]. And it is written with regard to Saul: “From his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people” (I Samuel 9:2). Upon seeing that his clothes fit David, Saul began to fear that it might be David who was destined for the throne, and he therefore inquired into his background. At that point, Doeg the Edomite said to Saul: Before you inquire as to whether or not he is fit for kingship, inquire as to whether or not he is even fit to enter into the congregation. What is the reason for such doubts? It is that he descends from Ruth the Moabite, and Moabites are permanently barred from entering the congregation." — Yevamot 76b:14; William Davidson Talmud Koren-Steinsaltz translation

Date Finished:

March 10, 2025

Description:

Avner is Shaul's paternal cousin via Kish's brother Ner and according to oral tradition, the Witch of Endor. In my stuff, he is younger than Shaul, born after the War Against Binyamin since his mother came from the women of Yavesh-Gilead (Jabesh-Gilead) given as wives to four hundred out of six hundred Binyaminite men.

Unlike Shaul's above average home life before getting crowned, Avner's situation at home was a lot more tenuous. His father and mother fought often about her sorcery until his father died. Then his mother left and turned specifically to necromancy from her grief. As a result, he looks up to Shaul as a role model. At the same time, he holds strong ambitions for the crown and his loyalty to the house of Shaul fades after Ishvi accuses him of lying with Ritzpah. Avner’s claim is too weak to be king in his own, but he can certainly play kingmaker.

I gave him an axe because axes become more effective from more force applied when swinging and with Avner's heavy physique, it would prove a devastating weapon.

Name:

Avner (אַבְנֵ֔ר) means "my father is a light/lamp." Avner is Shaul's cousin via his father's brother Ner ("light/lamp") in Sh'muel I 14:50. There is other genealogy claimed for Shaul in Chronicles I 8:33 that says that Ner begot Kish and then Kish begot Shaul, which contradicts the original Sh'muel version where Kish and Ner are both sons of Aviel. Radak claims that Aviel may have had two names: Ner and Aviel and that Avner's father, Ner, was named after his father's other title: Ner because Aviel lit candles for the public in the dark (Radak on Chronicles I 8:33:1).

Tanakh

וְשָׁ֡ם אִישׁ֩ מֵעַבְדֵ֨י שָׁא֜וּל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נֶעְצָר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יי וּשְׁמ֖וֹ דֹּאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִ֑י אַבִּ֥יר הָרֹעִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃ 

"Now a man was there from the servants of Sha'ul that day, held-in-custody in the presence of Hashem; his name was Do'eg the Edomite, chief of the shepherds that belonged to Sha'ul." — Sh'muel Aleph (Samuel I) 21:8; 1995 Schocken Bible Everett Fox translation

Talmud, Midrash, and Commentary

דבר אחר בבוא דואג. זה שאמר הכתוב (משלי כו כו) תכסה שנאה במשאון. תני ר' חייא מפרסמין את החנפים מפני חלול השם. שנאמר (יחזקאל ג כ) ובשוב צדיק מצדקתו. ולמה הקב"ה נועל הדרך לפניו. בשביל לפרסם מעשיהם לבריות שלא יארע בו דבר משום העבירות ויהיו הבריות קוראות תגר כנגד מדת הדין. בשביל כך הקב"ה רצה לפרסם מעשיו למי שהוא מחניף את חבירו. ולמדנו זה מדואג שהיה ראש לסנהדרין. שנאמר (שמואל-א כא ח) אביר הרועים אשר לשאול. ובשביל שהיה בו לשון הרע אף על פי שהיה בו תורה הכתוב פרסמו כדי להודיע לבריות מעשיו הרעים שלא ליפרע ממנו ויהיו קורין תגר לפני הקב"ה כנגד מדת הדין. לפיכך פרסמו הכתוב. ולמה נקרא שמו אדומי. על שם עירו נקרא אדומי. ר' שמואל אמר על שקינא בדוד שנקרא אדמוני. ולא הוא קינא בלבד אלא כל שבטו נתקנאו בו זיפים ואנשי קעילה ונבל. ר' אבא בר כהנא אמר על שהתיר דמן של נוב עיר הכהנים. שנאמר (שם כב יח) ויסוב דואג האדומי וגו' וימת ביום ההוא. רב נחמן אמר על שהתיר דמו של דוד. שאמר לשאול בן מות הוא ודמו מותר ואשתו מותרת לינשא לאחר. בר קפרא אמר שאסר דמו של אגג לשאול. ואמר לו כתוב בתורה (ויקרא כב כח) אותו ואת בנו לא תשחטו ביום אחד. ואתה הולך להמית נער וזקן טף ונשים ביום אחד. לכך נאמר אדומי. בשביל שנתחייבו על ידו. ר' יצחק אמר שהיה מאדים פני דוד בהלכה. שכל מי שנושא ונותן עמו מסלקו בתשובותיו. ר' חנינא אמר מה אדום מבליע זכיותיו של ישראל כך דואג מבליע זכיותיו של דוד. ורבותינו זכרונם לברכה אמרו מה אדום נוקם ונוטר כך דואג נוקם ונוטר לדוד: 

"Another thing to worry about. The scripture says (Proverbs 26:26), 'His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.' Rabbi Chayyah said, 'We publicize the hypocrites to prevent desecration of God's name,' as it is written (Ezekiel 3:20), "And when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has committed, he shall die.'" Why does God block his path? To publicize his actions to people, so that nothing bad happens to him due to his sins, and so that people call him to account against the measure of justice. For this reason, God wanted to publicize the actions of those who slander their fellow human beings. We learn this from Doeg, who was the head of the Sanhedrin, as it is written (1 Samuel 21:8), "Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's shepherds." Although he had the Torah, he still spoke evil, so the scripture publicized his actions so that people would know not to seek revenge against him, and so that they would call him to account before God. That is why the scripture called him "Edomite," after the name of his city. Rabbi Shmuel said it was because he was jealous of David and was called "Admoni." Not only was he jealous, but his entire tribe was jealous of him, including the Ziphites, the men of Keilah, and the Nabals. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said it was because he permitted the killing of the people of Nov, the city of the priests, as it is written (1 Samuel 22:18), "And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests and killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod." Rav Nachman said it was because he permitted the shedding of David's blood. He told Saul that he and his blood were permissible, and his wife was permissible to marry another. Bar Kappara said that he forbade the shedding of Agag's blood to Saul. And he said to him, "It is written in the Torah (Leviticus 22:28), 'You shall not slaughter an animal and its offspring on the same day.' And yet you are going to kill young and old, infants and women, all in one day. Therefore, it is said, 'Edomite,' because of the obligation incurred by him." Rabbi Yitzhak said that David's face turned red with embarrassment at this halachic ruling, as anyone who engages with him is removed from his responses. Rabbi Hanina said, "Just as Edom swallows the merits of Israel, so he worries about swallowing the merits of David." And our rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said, 'Just as Edom seeks revenge and bears a grudge, so he seeks revenge and bears a grudge against David.'" — Midrash Tehillim 52:3; 1995 Schocken Bible Everett Fox translation

Description

Doeg is one of Shaul's oldest friends from the time of the Civil War against Binyamin and onwards (Legends of the Jews 4:3:39 from Ps.-Jerome, 1 Chron. 8.38 that Doeg accompanied Shaul with the asses. The Septuagint reads Aramean instead of Edomite). In my modern midrash, he comes from a mixed heritage: his paternal grandfather was an Edomite convert into Judah and his mother was Judean. He hid Shaul, Kish, and Ner from Israelite soldiers during the war and was rewarded for his trouble. The years however decayed Doeg's moral character as he became arrogant and vengeful. There are a lot of negative things to say about Doeg, mainly that he's a slanderer and shedder of blood. I see him as someone who interacts with Shaul similar to how Iago acts with Othello. According to Talmud, Doeg used to incite Shaul to jealousy with various statements (Sanhedrin 93b:2-4). He's the one who made the call with Amalek and Agag that ultimately led Shaul to lose the kingship (Midrash Tehillim 52:3; Legends of the Jews 4:3:27; footnote 62). Unlike Iago, Doeg's toxic influence is not necessarily "intentional" (ie he intends to bring Shaul to ruin) as much as how it's simply a part of him. Regardless, lots of damage is done.

Date Made: 

April 19, 2025

Name

Doeg (דֹּאֵ֣ג) means "fearing" and comes from the root of do'eg (דּוּג), that is to be anxious or troubled, to melt, to be low-spirited, to sorrow, to care or worry, or to distress. If you remove the aleph and write it as dag (דָּג), it means "fish." It is a very apt name for my interpretation of Doeg on Shaul. The Rabbis themselves noted these various puns as well claiming that his misdeeds caught him like a fish (Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 10:2:19) and that even Hashem was concerned (doeg) about Doeg's path in life (Sanhedrin 106b:4).

Now the Edomite part is interesting because the Rabbis and other traditions say that Doeg was not Edomite ethnically but Edomite (red). The Rabbis say that he was from the tribe of Judah like David, but he was "the bloody one," he acted like a vengeful Edomite, or he made other Torah scholars blush in shame (Tehillim (Psalms) 52:4; Midrash Tehillim 52:3; Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 10:2:19; Tan. B. V, 29; Tan. Shofetim 1; Yerushalmi Sanherin 10, 29a; Babli 106b).

Design Notes:

To begin with, I wanted to base Doeg's design a lot on points and fish based on his name. I put fish hooks all over the pattern of his simla and based his body shape on a non-kosher fish native to Israel called an antenna codlet.

Tanakh

וְאֶת־עֲמָשָׂ֗א שָׂ֧ם אַבְשָׁלֹ֛ם תַּ֥חַת יוֹאָ֖ב עַל־הַצָּבָ֑א וַעֲמָשָׂ֣א בֶן־אִ֗ישׁ וּשְׁמוֹ֙ יִתְרָ֣א הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִ֔י אֲשֶׁר־בָּא֙ אֶל־אֲבִיגַ֣ל בַּת־נָחָ֔שׁ אֲח֥וֹת צְרוּיָ֖ה אֵ֥ם יוֹאָֽב׃ 

"As for Amasa, Avshalom put him in place of Yoav, [The One] Over the Armed-Forces—Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Yitra the Yizre’elite, who had come in to Avigayil daughter of Nahash, sister of Tzeruya, Yoav’s mother." — Sh'muel Bet (Samuel II) 17:25; 1995 Schocken Bible Everett Fox translation

Talmud, Midrash, and Commentary

 וַיֵּלֶךְ הוּא וּשְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים עִמּוֹ, וּמִי הָיוּ אַבְנֵר וַעֲמָשָׂא, (שמואל א כח, ח):

"He [Shaul] went and two men were with him” (I Samuel 28:8), these were Avner and Amasa." — Vayikra Rabbah 26:7; Sefaria Midrash Rabbah 2022

Description

Amasa is primarily known for his attachment to David and later Avshalom, yet the rabbis associated Amasa a lot more with Shaul as a companion to Endor. Amasa was known as a lion of Torah like Avner was, but Amasa has even less written about him than Avner despite living longer than Avner did. My version of Amasa expands on his character since I can see Shaul having an attachment for Amasa but because of how society is and Shaul's own hangups, they cannot be together.

Date Made: 

April 25, 2025

Name

Amasa (עֲמָשָׂא) means "burden." If you split the word, you get "am" meaning nation or people. The remaining piece vowelized differently means the following: sh'ar meaning residue, remnant, to remain behind; s'or meaning to leaven; sha'ar meaning to swell, rise, or run over; sh'er meaning kin. If you split the name differently to the first letter and then the rest, you get "a" meaning very "dear, expensive, or rare" and "masa" meaning load, burden but also lifting/uplifiting or oracle/utterance or lending on interest/usury.

Amasa's heritage is also a bit of a mystery. We know he's David's nephew from David's sister Avigayil from Yehudah. His father's identity is unclear whether he is an assimilated Yishmaelite (Ishmaelite), an Israelite, or a Yizre'elite. Chronicles and Samuel Bet in the Leningrad Codex says that Amasa's dad is a Yishmaelite while Sh'muel Bet says in the Masoretic text say that Amasa's father was an Israelite. According to Fox, he translates it as Yizrae'elite and that Avshalom restored Amasa to his father's Yitra's position. His father's name means abundance while his mother's name means "my father is joy."

Design Notes:

I always saw Amasa as a quiet person and wanted to reflect that in his expression. Shaul is attached to him because Amasa listens.