וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל אֹתִ֨י שָׁלַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ לִמְשָׁחֳךָ֣ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ עַל־עַמּ֖וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֣ה שְׁמַ֔ע לְק֖וֹל דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ (ס)
Samuel sprach zu Saul: Mich hat der Herr gesandt, dich zum König über sein Volk Israel zu salben. So gehorche denn dem Befehl des Herrn.
Bereshit Rabbah
“Sarai said to Abram: Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; please, consort with my maidservant; perhaps I will be built up through her. Abram heeded the voice of Sarai” (Genesis 16:2).
“Sarai said to Abram: Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children” – she said: ‘I know what my condition comes from. It is not as they say about me: She requires an amulet, she requires a cure. It is, rather, “the Lord has prevented me from bearing children.”’13There is no natural cause for my infertility; it is God’s decree.
It is taught: Anyone who does not have a child, it is as though he were dead, as though he were demolished. As though he were dead – as it is stated: “Rachel…said to Jacob: Give me children, [and if not, I am dead]” (Genesis 30:1). As though he were demolished, as it is stated: “Perhaps I will be built up from her” – one builds up only what is demolished.
“Abram heeded the voice of Sarai” – Rabbi Yosei said: The voice of the divine spirit,14Sarah’s request was actually a reflection of the divine will. just as it says: “Now, heed the voice of the words of the Lord” (I Samuel 15:1).
“Sarai said to Abram: Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children” – she said: ‘I know what my condition comes from. It is not as they say about me: She requires an amulet, she requires a cure. It is, rather, “the Lord has prevented me from bearing children.”’13There is no natural cause for my infertility; it is God’s decree.
It is taught: Anyone who does not have a child, it is as though he were dead, as though he were demolished. As though he were dead – as it is stated: “Rachel…said to Jacob: Give me children, [and if not, I am dead]” (Genesis 30:1). As though he were demolished, as it is stated: “Perhaps I will be built up from her” – one builds up only what is demolished.
“Abram heeded the voice of Sarai” – Rabbi Yosei said: The voice of the divine spirit,14Sarah’s request was actually a reflection of the divine will. just as it says: “Now, heed the voice of the words of the Lord” (I Samuel 15:1).