David encouraged himself?

[Brickjectivity]

I'm wondering how David strengthens himself as mentioned in the Jewish text of I Samuel 30:6. David is threatened with stoning, so it says he encourages himself in the L-rd. Does this mean that he was able to encourage himself in isolation? He's not alone, because he's got 600 followers. Does he meditate, recite a psalm? What do you suppose he does to get encouraged? Maybe it means he prayed or perhaps it means that he talked with Abiathar. Maybe it means he gritted his teeth and pressed forward. What would you do if it were you?

I'm not Jewish, and I'm not sure this is a 'Judaism' question. I've posted the question in this section, because I want to avoid any debate between various religions. Anybody want to venture an answer? Thanks.

 

[dantech]

I'm wondering how David strengthens himself as mentioned in the Jewish text of I Samuel 30:6. David is threatened with stoning, so it says he encourages himself in the L-rd. Does this mean that he was able to encourage himself in isolation? He's not alone, because he's got 600 followers. Does he meditate, recite a psalm? What do you suppose he does to get encouraged? Maybe it means he prayed or perhaps it means that he talked with Abiathar. Maybe it means he gritted his teeth and pressed forward. What would you do if it were you?

I'm not Jewish, and I'm not sure this is a 'Judaism' question. I've posted the question in this section, because I want to avoid any debate between various religions. Anybody want to venture an answer? Thanks.

Well first of all, the word in Hebrew is וַיִּתְחַזֵּק . This means "Strengthened" as you said in the beginning of your post, but I don't know why you then started saying "encouraged".

Now, if we look at the context, in the verse before we see that David just lost both his wives, and that he is in great distress. In the verse that follows, it says that he asks God's advice on what to do.

I think the verse you are wondering about simply shows that rather than stay in distress, and panic, and perhaps give up on life after losing both his wives, that David strengthened himself [by having faith] in God, and then just went through with the rest.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

1 Samuel 30:6

And David was in dire straights, for the troops thought to stone him, for all the troops were embittered, every man over his sons and his daughters. And David took strength in the Lord his God.

He finds encouragement in the face of mortal despair - specifically, as the next verse explains, by calling for the oracle. In this fashion, he staves off the assault his men are contemplating by dramatically showing that they still have means of redress against the Amalekites, and that he has a special channel of communication with God.

- Alter​

By the way, you write:

as mentioned in the Jewish text of I Samuel 30:6. David is threatened with stoning, so it says he encourages himself in the L-rd.

In which Jewish text does it say that David "encouraged himself in the Lord"?

 

[Brickjectivity]

Well first of all, the word in Hebrew is וַיִּתְחַזֵּק . This means "Strengthened" as you said in the beginning of your post, but I don't know why you then started saying "encouraged".

Now, if we look at the context, in the verse before we see that David just lost both his wives, and that he is in great distress. In the verse that follows, it says that he asks God's advice on what to do.

I think the verse you are wondering about simply shows that rather than stay in distress, and panic, and perhaps give up on life after losing both his wives, that David strengthened himself [by having faith] in God, and then just went through with the rest.

Good points, thanks for your time. I used 'Encouraged' because of the translations I have one uses 'Encouraged', some use 'Strengthened'. I was not sure, and also they seem similar.

 

[Brickjectivity]

1 Samuel 30:6

And David was in dire straights, for the troops thought to stone him, for all the troops were embittered, every man over his sons and his daughters. And David took strength in the Lord his God.

He finds encouragement in the face of mortal despair - specifically, as the next verse explains, by calling for the oracle. In this fashion, he staves off the assault his men are contemplating by dramatically showing that they still have means of redress against the Amalekites, and that he has a special channel of communication with God.

- Alter​

I appreciate that. I see Alter has translated Samuel now.

In which Jewish text does it say that David "encouraged himself in the Lord"?

An old translation KJV used the term.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I appreciate that. I see Alter has translated Samuel now.

Actually, it's been available for over a decade.

An old translation KJV used the term.

Perhaps you had originally intended "Jewish scripture" - just so we both know that the KJV is not "Jewish text." You may wish to consider picking up the Jewish Study Bible if only as an auxiliary resource.

 

[Avi1001]

So does anyone actually believe that G-d showed favor to David ? Or was David just a talented warrior ? How would a non-anthropomorphic G-d show favor to David ? Perhaps by making him a more talented warrior ?

 

[Brickjectivity]

So does anyone actually believe that G-d showed favor to David ? Or was David just a talented warrior ? How would a non-anthropomorphic G-d show favor to David ? Perhaps by making him a more talented warrior ?

Good question. Could it also mean a more talented diplomat?

 

[RabbiO]

How would a non-anthropomorphic G-d show favor to David ?

Depends on what you mean by non-anthropomorphic.

Peter

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

How would a non-anthropomorphic G-d show favor to David ?

Presumable any way It wanted to.