Talut and Goliath
The story of Talut and Goliath: The triumph of faith over tyranny
Introduction
The story of Talut and Goliath is one of the great Qur'anic stories that carries profound lessons about faith, justice, patience, and trust in God's victory. This story is found in Surat al-Baqarah (verses 246-251) and tells of a struggle between right and wrong, and how God gives victory to the believers despite their small numbers and weak capabilities.
Background of the story
After the death of the Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, the Israelites lived through a period of wandering and weakness. The descendants of the prophets were cut off, and God gave them mighty kings who inflicted injustice and oppression on them. They lost the Ark of the Covenant, which was the source of their blessing and strength, which led to their defeat before their enemies and their scattering. This state of affairs lasted for about 460 years, until God sent the prophet Shmuel to guide them.
The Mission of Prophet Shmuel ben Bali
The conditions of the Israelites had worsened greatly, and they were oppressed by enemies and kings alike, so they began to plead with God to send a messenger to fight with them.
There was a war against the giants, including their king, Goliath, and they were unequal to this fight, so they appealed to God for help
They sent to that woman and locked her in a house so that she would not give birth and change her child when she saw the need of the Israelites for this child, and this woman had asked her Lord to give birth to a male, and indeed this woman gave birth and gave birth to a male, and she named him Simeon.
The Revelation to Shmuel
When this boy grew up and was ready to receive the prophecy, Gabriel descended on him while he was sleeping next to his sheikh. Gabriel called him the first time, and Shmuel got up in fear and asked his sheikh, “Did you call me?” He answered yes, so he did not want him to be afraid, then he called him again, and his sheikh told him, “If I call you a third time, do not get up.” Gabriel called him a third time, and told him to go to his people and inform them of God's command and message, and told him that he was God's prophet among them.
The boy went to his people to tell them, but they disbelieved him and told him that he had rushed the prophecy and that it had not been revealed to him.
Proof of Shmuel's prophecy
When Shmuel insisted on his prophecy, his people asked him to bring them proof of this prophecy so that they would believe his prophecy, so Shmuel told them that if there was a king among them and he imposed a fight on them, they should fight, and the Israelites accepted this.
God gave Shmuel a stick that the king should be as tall as this stick, and they began to measure it on themselves, but it did not apply to anyone.
When he arrived, they gave him the staff to measure it against, and the staff matched his height, but the Israelites rejected it, so there was no king in Talut's lineage.
The second sign of God came to prove the validity of Talut's kingship, as he made the ark in his house and in his hands, and he was as peaceful as he was described.
The Israelites' request for a king
The Israelites went to Prophet Shmuel to ask for the appointment of a king to lead them in the war against their enemies. Shmuel feared that they would not stand firm in battle, but they persisted in their request. He told them that God had chosen Talut as their king, a man of the common people, not a rich man or a descendant of kings. The Israelites objected to the choice of Talut, but the prophet emphasized that God had chosen him for his knowledge and physical strength.
The miracle of the ark
As a sign of the choice of Saul, the prophet told them that the lost ark would return to them carried by angels. When this miracle happened, the Israelites submitted to the leadership of Talut, and tranquility and blessing were restored.
River test
Saul prepared a large army to face Goliath and his soldiers. On their way, they passed a river, and Talut ordered his soldiers not to drink from it except by hand. Most of the soldiers disobeyed the order and left the army, leaving only 313 warriors with Talut, who remained faithful and patient.
Facing Goliath
When the army arrived on the battlefield, the soldiers were afraid of Goliath, who was a strong and armored knight. Goliath asked for a duel, but no one came forward to face him. David, a young man who was tending sheep, volunteered to fight Goliath. Using his slingshot and a small stone, David hit Goliath in the forehead and killed him, resulting in the defeat of the enemy army.
Victory for the Israelites
After Goliath was killed, Talut's army was victorious, and David became a hero in the eyes of his people. David married Talut's daughter, and later became king and prophet to the Israelites, combining prophecy and kingship.