Talut طالوت | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other names | Saul (according to Muslim tradition) | ||||||||||||||||
| Known for | The first king ofIsraelites in theQuran. | ||||||||||||||||
| Title | King of Israel | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Samuil | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Dawud | ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Talut (Arabic:طالوت,romanized: Ṭālūt) is a divinely appointed[1] king mentioned in theQuran traditionally identified with theIsraelite kingSaul,[2] as he is stated to be theMalik (مَـلِـك, 'king') of Bani Israel.
The nameTalut (طالوت) has an uncertainetymology. Unlike most other figures found in both theHebrew Bible and theQuran, theArabic name is not similar to theHebrew name (שָׁאוּל,Šāʾūl). According toMuslim exegetes, Talut means "tall" and refers to the extraordinary stature of Saul, which would be consistent with the Biblical account.[3] In explanation of the name, exegetes such as the 11th-century scholarAbu Ishaq al-Tha'labi hold that at this time, the future king of Israel was to be recognized by his height;Samuel set up a measure, but no person in Israel reached the sufficient height except for Saul.[citation needed] The name is also similar to the name ofGoliath (Arabic:جالوت,romanized: Jālūt) in the Quran.
After the time ofMusa (Moses), theIsraelites began to demand a king to lead them into war against their enemies. Consequently, Talut was appointed king by prophet Samuel of the Children of Israel who announced that God had chosen Talut as the new king ofIsrael. The Israelites questioned the prophet's decision, lacking respect for Talut due to his lack of wealth. The prophet then told them that Talut was more favoured than they were. He was distinguished from the rest by his great knowledge and by his physique. A sign of his rightful role as king was that God had brought back theArk of the Covenant to Israel for the Israelites. Talut tested his people at a river: whoever drank from it would not follow him in battle excepting one who took from it a handful. Many of them drank, but only the faithful ventured on. Talut then led the Israelites to victory over the army ofGoliath, who was killed byDawud (David). Talut is not considered to be aprophet (نَـبِي,nabī) of God, but rather a divinely-appointed king.[1]
Talut is also mentioned in ahadith (Arabic:حَـديـث,lit. 'narration'): "NarratedAl-Bara: Thecompanions ofMuhammad, who took part inBadr, told me that their number was that of Talut's companions who crossed theriver (of Jordan) with him, and they were over three-hundred-and-ten men. By God, none crossed the river with him, but a believer."[4]
