Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/162

 144 JUDAISM. AND ISL^M.

afterwards went. The prophet (Samuel) gave out that Saul was sent of God, still he seemed despicable in the eyes of the people. 1 As a sign that. the rule pertained to Saul, the prophet of Israel announced the return of the Ark of the Covenant. Saul then proved his troops, and allowed only those to belong to his army who drank water lapping it with the hand; this was done by very few, and even these were afraid of Goliath and his armies. David at length overcame the Philistine and his hosts and gained the dominion." The circumstance that through Saul the .Ark of the Covenant came back 2 is contrary to Scripture, accord- ing to which the Ark came back earlier. The story of Saul's proving his troops is evidently a confusion with that of Gideon, concerning whom this is related in the Bible, 3 and has doubtless risen from the similar story of Saul's forbidding food to the army. 4 This confusion with Gideon accounts too for the saying that only a few mighty men followed Saul. The name of the prophet is not given, and later Arabians also are in ignorance about it. 5 Saul is called Taint, 6 a name probably given on account of his height. 7 Muhammad notices in the Quran that Saul was of great height, 8 and Baidhawi gives this derivation for . Lis name. Goliath is called JaHt. 9 The personality of David 10 is certainly more clearly grasped in the Qura"n, but the actual historical events of his life are scarcely touched upon. David's victory over Goliath is mentioned

1 1 Samuel, x. 27.

2 Sura II.. 249 must be thus understood, and perhaps it would also be better to read y>U5\ *.oV. here.

3 Judges, vii. 5 ff. * 1 Samuel, xiv. 24 ff.

5 Baidhawi says : Jjj** 1 ^ (?0j-&-&) (.y**& fi g&i

6 cwjH probably derided from Jl to be tall.

7 1 Samuel, ix. 2, x. 23. 8 Sura II. 248. 9 J^Ju 10 ."I"\T