Soccer Dad

Famous last words - agag edition

The Shabbos before Purim the haftarah (reading from the prophets) comes from Samuel I 15. In possuk (verse) 32, Agag, the evil King of Amalek is brought before Shmuel (Samuel) the prophet and says "Achen sar mar hamaves" that translates (roughly) to "now the bitterness of death has turned (away)."

I'd never really understood the statement, so this year, I looked into it a bit.

In this translation the meaning of his statement is that he no longer fears (the bitterness) of death. Whether this is an observation or a boast, is not really clear.

Rashi the classic commentary explains the verse as saying, "I understand that the bitterness of death awaits me." It would seem to be resignation. The Radak translates similarly.

However the Ralbag takes a different approach. Here the king is captured and not immediately killed as was probably the custom in those days. He is brought before the prophet of God, Shmuel and see a pure holy man. So he declares, "Now the bitterness of death has been turned away from me," believing that Shmuel will spare him.

Shmuel thus responds, "just as you sword has rendered woman childless so to will your mother be rendered childless," disabusing him of the notion that he would be spared.

The Malbim also had a different approach. He doesn't translate "mar" here as bitterness but as "exchange." So Agag's line read like, "Now this imitation of death has turned from me."

Agag the haughty king was now in captivity and subject to the indignities of that status. For him this was a fate worse than death. Seeing Shmuel he sees relief; death is a welcome release from his terrible condition.

Shmuel responds by explaining that though it might be better to let him live and suffer, Agag's violence warrants his execution.

Just some ideas as we head into the holiday of Purim when we celebrate the defeat of Agag's descendent Haman. (Haman it should be noted did not accept his fate with the apparent stoicism his ancestor may well have displayed.)

UPDATE: My brother pointed out that the difference between Agag and Haman was that Agag had a full night to comptemplate his fate; Haman was condemned on the spot.

Technorati tags: Purim, Agag, Shmuel, Haman.