The Rejected Chosen One: The Motif of King Saul’s Rejection in the Context of the Historical Narrative of the Old Testament
Abstract
There is no consensus among exegetes on the reasons for God’s rejection of King Saul, even though he had previously been His chosen one. This motif remains one of the significant exegetical aporias, comparable to Moses’ rejection or original sin. Based on a literary analysis of 1 Sam 1 – 2 Sam 5 and a comparative study of texts using the analogous motif of the rejection of the chosen one, this article aims to show that certain narrative parts of the Old Testament present a recurring ideological pattern. Its key feature is a significant broadening of the narrative context beyond the episode of a given character’s rejection. The application of a diachronic perspective of the historical–critical method also permits us to conclude that later redactors and commentators on the history of Israel most likely introduced the motif of the rejected chosen one. They sought to merge various biblical traditions into a unified historiographical and theological narrative, presenting the history of Israel as a dialogue between God and His people, who – both as a community and through their chosen representatives – did not always respond adequately to God’s call. According to the authors of the Enneateuch, the consequences of this unfaithfulness were the primary source of the chosen people’s failures.
Keywords:
King Saul, rejection of King Saul, beginnings of the monarchy of Israel, motif of rejection of the chosen one, history of David’s riseReferences
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