And sometimes, the most unexpected stories offer the clearest answers. Let's delve into one, shall we?
Our story takes us back to the time of Saul, the son of Kish, the first king of Israel. He was a complex figure, to say the least. The text, from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 33, paints a fascinating, if somewhat unsettling, picture. It starts by reminding us of Saul's initial good deeds. He purged the land of witches and necromancers, those who dabbled in the dark arts. But then, something shifted. "He loved that which he had hated," the text tells us. Why? What drove this dramatic change?
Driven by desperation, facing the looming Philistine army and feeling abandoned by God, Saul sought guidance from an unlikely source. He disguised himself and journeyed to En Dor, seeking out a woman, the wife of Zephaniah and mother of Abner, known for her ability to conjure spirits. He asked her to summon the prophet Samuel from beyond the grave, using her ov, her familiar spirit.
Can you imagine the scene? A king, cloaked in secrecy, begging a sorceress to break the barrier between worlds? It's the stuff of legends!
And here’s where the story gets truly wild. The woman, through her necromantic arts, seemingly does conjure Samuel. But it wasn't just Samuel alone. According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, when Samuel ascended, other spirits came with him, thinking the resurrection of the dead had arrived! What a moment that must have been.
The woman herself was terrified. “And the king said unto her, ‘Be not afraid: for what seest thou?’” (1 Samuel 28:13). She was clearly shocked by what she had unleashed. Some say, as the text notes, "Many righteous men like Samuel came up with him in that hour." Talk about an unexpected guest list!
Now, where does charity fit into all this? It's not immediately obvious, is it? But consider this: Saul's initial righteousness, his dedication to removing evil from the land, can be seen as a form of societal charity. He was working to create a better, safer world for his people. Yet, his later actions, his descent into seeking forbidden knowledge, ultimately led to his downfall.
The text doesn’t explicitly connect Saul’s actions with charity, but it does highlight the power of our choices, and the importance of staying true to our values. What begins with good intentions can unravel if we stray from the path of righteousness. Perhaps the story is hinting that consistent, selfless giving – true charity – is a bulwark against the temptations that lead us astray. Maybe Saul’s initial acts weren’t enough. Maybe true charity requires a sustained commitment, a constant striving for good.
This story from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer isn’t just a spooky tale of kings and spirits. It's a reminder of the power we wield, the choices we make, and the enduring importance of living a life of purpose, a life dedicated to acts of tzedakah, of righteousness and charity. What do you think? Can charity truly shape our destiny?