Sympathetic Villains from the Bible: Saul
As one grows up reading the Bible, there are some characters who clearly fall into the category of heroes, and others as villains. As one grows older, one discovers that things are not so crystal clear, and may even become surprised at the way some of the “villains” become quite likeable.
One such character is Saul. Why do I sympathise with Saul?
(1) Saul was pushed into power for dubious reasons, apparently because he was tall, good-looking and came from a weak tribe. Ill-prepared for the task ahead it is little surprise that he is a failure.
(2) Saul takes over from Samuel, yet the latter is grudging, to put it lightly, in handing over power. As ruler, Saul has to put up with continuous interference from Samuel, which is an untenable position for a leader.
(3) Yes, Saul committed many mistakes, but they pale into insignificance when compared with David’s. Yet the latter was preserved in tradition as a hero, and Saul gradually villified.
(4) Saul tried to kill David, yet I would suggest that he did not want David to die (Saul’s psychology was hardly straightforward). In fact his last words to David are “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” (1 Samuel 26:25)
Tags: , Old Testament
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