THE STORY OF THE PROPHET DAVID - The Election of Thalut (Saul) to Become King of the Children of Israel

After the death of Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron, the leadership of the Children of Israel was handed over to Yusya 'bin Nun. During this period, a new generation was born in the Children of Israel who were not afraid of war. Yusya 'bin Nun was able to lead the Children of Israel so they could master the promised Holy Land. But after Yusya 'bin Nun died, the Children of Israel became divided. They dare to change the contents of the Torah according to their own will. They like to disagree and fight so that the strength of their unity has been lost. Finally their Holy Land was invaded and controlled by other nations who were said are the people of Al-‘Amaliqah from among the residents of Ghazzah and ‘Asqalan. The Children of Israel became a weak and oppressed colony. Their "Tabut" (Ark) was seized by the oppressor nation.

Because of their defeat, the Children of Israel wanted a leader who was firm and brave to lead the Children of Israel in fighting against the invaders. So they went to the Prophet Samuel to ask for instructions.

They begged the Prophet Samuel to appoint one of the Children of Israel to be the king who was able to lead to defeat the invaders. But the Prophet Samuel actually worried that if there had been a leader chosen by Allah SWT then they would not go to war. The Children of Israel said that they truly could not bear the suffering of being an oppressed nation, they were determined to uphold the religion of God.

Surah Al-Baqarah verse 246:

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ مِنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذۡ قَالُواْ لِنَبِيّٖ لَّهُمُ ٱبۡعَثۡ لَنَا مَلِكٗا نُّقَٰتِلۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۖ قَالَ هَلۡ عَسَيۡتُمۡ إِن كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ أَلَّا تُقَٰتِلُواْۖ قَالُواْ وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نُقَٰتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَدۡ أُخۡرِجۡنَا مِن دِيَٰرِنَا وَأَبۡنَآئِنَاۖ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوۡاْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنۡهُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ  ٢٤٦

246.  Have you not considered the assembly of the Children of Israel after [the time of] Moses when they said to a prophet of theirs, "Send to us a king, and we will fight in the way of Allah "? He said, "Would you perhaps refrain from fighting if fighting was prescribed for you?" They said, "And why should we not fight in the cause of Allah when we have been driven out from our homes and from our children?" But when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, except for a few of them. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.

Because of the insistence of his people, the Prophet Samuel pleaded with Allah SWT for the determination of the Children of Israel. Allah SWT granted his prayer and the person who was chosen to be King of the Children of Israel was Thalut (Saul).

When they found out that Thalut was chosen, they refused. Thalut is not very well known. Thalut is just an ordinary farmer who can be called a poor person. He did not have power in the Children of Israel before. Even though there are many people who are more famous and richer in the Children of Israel. The Prophet Samuel explained that although Thalut was only an ordinary person but he was good at war strategy, his body was strong, and he was good at state administration.

Surah Al-Baqarah verse 247:

وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ بَعَثَ لَكُمۡ طَالُوتَ مَلِكٗاۚ قَالُوٓاْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ عَلَيۡنَا وَنَحۡنُ أَحَقُّ بِٱلۡمُلۡكِ مِنۡهُ وَلَمۡ يُؤۡتَ سَعَةٗ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَالِۚ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَىٰهُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَزَادَهُۥ بَسۡطَةٗ فِي ٱلۡعِلۡمِ وَٱلۡجِسۡمِۖ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤۡتِي مُلۡكَهُۥ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٞ  ٢٤٧

247.  And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, Allah has sent to you Saul as a king." They said, "How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given any measure of wealth?" He said, "Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing [in favor] and Knowing."

But the Children of Israel asked for proof that Thalut was truly appointed by Allah SWT to become king. The Prophet Samuel said that the evidence was the return of the Ark of the legacy of Prophet Moses and Aaron the Prophet to them. The Ark will be carried by angels. Then, the Children of Israel saw the arrival of the Ark. The ark reflected angelic light. The angel carefully placed the Ark on the ground. The Children of Israel felt calm in their hearts and their faith increased. The their Ark is in their hands. So the Children of Israel accepted and agreed that Talut would be their king. In their lives there has been a government that will regulate and lead them according to the Shari'a of Allah SWT.

Surah Al-Baqarah verse 248:

وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلۡكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَبَقِيَّةٞ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَٰرُونَ تَحۡمِلُهُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ  ٢٤٨

248.  And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to you in which is assurance from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers."

When Thalut had announced his people to fight against the invaders, there was a father who sent his sons to join in the battle on the battlefield, but his youngest child named David was not permitted to fight on the front lines. David was indeed very young and had no experience in combat. But David's father allowed David to bring food supplies to his old brothers and send news about the battle to his father. With pleasure, David accepted the assignment and was grateful for being able to participate in fighting in the way of Allah SWT