But the Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, Vol. 4) gives us a fascinating little detail you might have missed.

Imagine GOLIATH, this towering warrior, completely encased in layers upon layers of armor. How could David, armed with just a sling and some stones, possibly remove the armor after he'd felled the giant, let alone cut off his head?

That’s where URIAH THE HITTITE comes in. He offered his services to David, but with a condition: David had to secure him an Israelite wife. A bit of a quid pro quo, wouldn't you say? David agreed, and Uriah then revealed the secret: the various pieces of armor were fastened together at the heels of Goliath’s feet. This allowed David to access the vulnerable point and complete his legendary task.

But David's victory, as glorious as it was, only served to stoke the flames of SAUL's jealousy. The Legends of the Jews portrays SAUL as increasingly paranoid. He sends ABNER, his general, on a mission: to investigate David’s lineage. SAUL knew David was from the tribe of Judah, but he wanted to know if he belonged to the clan of Perez or the clan of Zerah. Why? Because if David was from the clan of Perez, it would confirm SAUL’s suspicion that David was destined for kingship.

And here’s where it gets really interesting. DOEG, described as David’s old enemy, pipes up. He argues that David, being a descendant of Ruth the Moabitess, wasn’t even a full member of the Jewish community! Therefore, SAUL had nothing to fear from him.

This sparks a lively debate between ABNER and DOEG. The core question? Did the law in Deuteronomy regarding Moabites apply to women as well as men? This wasn't just idle chatter; it was about who was considered a part of the community and who wasn't.

According to Ginzberg's Legends, DOEG, a skilled debater, masterfully refuted all of ABNER’s arguments in favor of admitting Moabitish women. Can you imagine the intensity of that discussion? It was so heated that they had to appeal to SAMUEL's authority to settle the matter once and for all!

But even SAMUEL’s authority wasn’t enough to quell the dispute entirely. The Legends tell us that the argument could only be resolved through threats of violence! ITHRA, the father of Amasa, also known as the Ishmaelite (presumably due to his Arab customs), threatened to cut down anyone who refused to accept Samuel’s interpretation.

What was that interpretation? That male Moabites and male Ammonites were forever excluded from the congregation of Israel, but Moabite and Ammonite women were not.

It’s fascinating, isn’t it? How a seemingly straightforward victory like David’s over GOLIATH could trigger such complex questions of lineage, belonging, and the interpretation of sacred law. It reminds us that even the most celebrated stories are often layered with intricate details and moral dilemmas, offering us glimpses into the social and religious landscape of the time. And it all stems from the simple question: who truly belongs? A question that still resonates with us today.