Parashat Zachor (Devarim 25:17-9) which is the additional Tora reading added the Shabbat prior to Purim, associates the attack of Amalek (Shemot 17:8-16) with Haman’s genocidal plans to destroy the Jewish people, recorded in Megillat Esther, read twice over the course of the Purim festival.
The Haftora is devoted to another battle with Amalek, this time with the Jews, led by King Shaul, in the role of the attackers. Shaul’s personal decision to digress from the Divine Instructions, and spare the king along with valuable property belonging to the Amalekites, despite his excuse that the army made him do it, is summarily Condemned by God. Shmuel delivers the chilling verdict to the man that he anointed as the first king of Israel: (I Shmuel 15:23) “…Because you rejected the LORD’s Command, He has Rejected you as king.” Shaul pleads with the prophet that he be given a “second chance,” but to no avail. The confrontation comes to a close with one of the most dramatic scenes in TaNaCh, where the monarch grabs onto Shmuel’s robe in his desperation, only to have a corner of the cloth come away in his hand. The Navi notes the symbolism of the moment, and declares: (Ibid. 28) “…The LORD has this day Torn the kingship over Israel away from you…”
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