David's popularity
Ein
Gedi - the Kid Source in Hebrew - is the name of one of the oases located
on the west bank of the Dead Sea. The waters that feed it come from sources
fed by the underground reservoirs where the rain that falls on the hills
of Hebron is collected. The stream of water that traverses this reserve
bears the name of King David who began his political career winning fame
in his confrontation with the Philistines that contented with the Israelites
for the region. His popularity provoked the jealousy of Saul, the king
of Israel. The Biblical text recounts the following:
Dispatched
by Saul, David was on an expedition, gaining so many victories that
the former named him chief of the warriors. In this way, he won the
love of all the people as well as of Saul's servants. One day when David,
the conqueror of the Philistines, was returning from the field, the
women in all the cities of Israel went out to meet King Saul, singing
and dancing to the merry sound of the tambourines and triangles. They
rejoiced, singing in chorus:
Saul beat his thousands,
David, his myriads!
This
displeased Saul who in his chagrin said: " They credit myriads to David
and to me thousands: all he is lacking now is the kingship!" From that
day forward, Saul became hostile to David.
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