וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁאוּל֩ לְנֹשֵׂ֨א כֵלָ֜יו שְׁלֹ֥ף חַרְבְּךָ֣ ׀ וְדָקְרֵ֣נִי בָ֗הּ פֶּן־יָ֠בוֹאוּ הָעֲרֵלִ֨ים הָאֵ֤לֶּה וּדְקָרֻ֙נִי֙ וְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־בִ֔י וְלֹ֤א אָבָה֙ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֔יו כִּ֥י יָרֵ֖א מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּקַּ֤ח שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב וַיִּפֹּ֖ל עָלֶֽיהָ׃
И сказал Саул оруженосцу своему: 'Возьми свой меч и воткни меня в него; чтобы эти необрезанные не пришли и не проткнули меня и не высмеяли меня.'Но его оруженосец не будет; потому что он очень боялся. И взял Саул меч свой и пал на него.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
Our Rabbis were taught that five were created with something similar to the design of Heaven, and all were in the end punished through that very same design: Samson with his unusual strength; Saul with his extraordinary neck; Abshalom with his wonderful long locks; King Zedekiah with his unusual bright eyes; and King Assah with his powerful legs. Samson with his strength, as it is written (Jud. 16, 19) And his strength departed from him; Saul with his extraordinary neck, as it is written (I Sam. 31, 4) Therefore Saul took his sword and fell upon it; Abshalom with his wonderful locks; as it is written (Sam. 18, 9) And his head caught hold of the oak; Zedekiah with his unusually bright eyes, as it is written (II Sam. 25, 7) And he blinded the eyes of Zedekiah! Assa with his powerful legs, as it is written (I Kings 15, 23) Nevertheless in the time of his old age he became diseased in his feet; and R. Juda in the name of Rab said: "This means that he became sick with gout." Mar Zutra, the son of R. Nachman, said to R. Nachman: "What kind of a sickness is gout: "Like needles sticking in the flesh." Whence did he learn this? According to some, R. Nachman himself suffered with it, and according to others he had a tradition from his teacher, and again, according to others, he knew it as the passage says (Ps. 25, 14) The secret counsel of the Lord is for those that fear Him and his covenant to make it known to Him. Raba expounded: "Why was King Assah punished in his legs?" "Because he seized scholars for public service, as it is said (I Kings 15, 22) Then King Asa made a proclamation unto all Juda; none being exempted. What does none being exempted mean? Said R. Juda in the name of Rab: "Even a groom from his chamber and a bride from under her canopy."
Bereshit Rabbah
“Every crawling creature that lives shall be yours to eat; like green vegetation, I have given you everything” (Genesis 9:3).
“But flesh with its life, its blood, you shall not eat” (Genesis 9:4).
“Every crawling creature that lives…but flesh with its life, its blood [you shall not eat]”60This is a prohibition against eating a limb or piece of meat taken from a living animal. – Rabbi Yosei bar Aivu in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: Adam the first man, for whom the consumption of meat for pleasure was not permitted, was not warned regarding a limb taken from a living animal,61As it was not relevant for him. but the descendants of Noah, for whom the consumption of meat for pleasure was permitted,62Genesis 9:3. were warned regarding a limb taken from a living animal.
“But I will demand your blood of your lives; from every beast I will demand it, and from man; from every man for his brother, I will demand the life of man” (Genesis 9:5).
“But [akh] [I will demand your blood of your lives]”63This is a prohibition against suicide. – to include one who strangles himself.64Even though there is no shed “blood” to be “demanded.” One might think that this applies [even] to cases like Saul?65Who took his own life to avoid torture and desecration by the Philistines (I Samuel 31:4). The verse states akh.66Akh is an exclusionary term, which teaches that there are circumstances when it is permitted for one to take his life. One might think that this applies [even] to cases like Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya?67Who consented to surrender their own lives in order to avoid committing idolatry (Daniel 3:17). The verse states akh.
“From every beast” – this refers to one who makes his fellow man available to a wild beast to kill him.68Although murder was not technically committed, one who does this is still culpable. “From every man for his brother” – this refers to one who hires others to kill his fellow man.
Another interpretation, “from every beast I will demand it”69God will exact justice against any man or beast that kills a human. – these are the four kingdoms.70The four kingdoms that would subjugate Israel until the advent of the Messiah (Daniel chapter 2). “From man [adam], from every man for his brother” – this is Esau,71Also known as Edom, the forebears of the Romans. as it is written: “Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau” (Genesis 32:12). “I will demand the life of man” – these are Israel,72Who are constantly being killed by the Romans. as it is stated: “You are My flock” (Ezekiel 34:17); “Flock of My pasture, you are man” (Ezekiel 34:31).
“But flesh with its life, its blood, you shall not eat” (Genesis 9:4).
“Every crawling creature that lives…but flesh with its life, its blood [you shall not eat]”60This is a prohibition against eating a limb or piece of meat taken from a living animal. – Rabbi Yosei bar Aivu in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: Adam the first man, for whom the consumption of meat for pleasure was not permitted, was not warned regarding a limb taken from a living animal,61As it was not relevant for him. but the descendants of Noah, for whom the consumption of meat for pleasure was permitted,62Genesis 9:3. were warned regarding a limb taken from a living animal.
“But I will demand your blood of your lives; from every beast I will demand it, and from man; from every man for his brother, I will demand the life of man” (Genesis 9:5).
“But [akh] [I will demand your blood of your lives]”63This is a prohibition against suicide. – to include one who strangles himself.64Even though there is no shed “blood” to be “demanded.” One might think that this applies [even] to cases like Saul?65Who took his own life to avoid torture and desecration by the Philistines (I Samuel 31:4). The verse states akh.66Akh is an exclusionary term, which teaches that there are circumstances when it is permitted for one to take his life. One might think that this applies [even] to cases like Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya?67Who consented to surrender their own lives in order to avoid committing idolatry (Daniel 3:17). The verse states akh.
“From every beast” – this refers to one who makes his fellow man available to a wild beast to kill him.68Although murder was not technically committed, one who does this is still culpable. “From every man for his brother” – this refers to one who hires others to kill his fellow man.
Another interpretation, “from every beast I will demand it”69God will exact justice against any man or beast that kills a human. – these are the four kingdoms.70The four kingdoms that would subjugate Israel until the advent of the Messiah (Daniel chapter 2). “From man [adam], from every man for his brother” – this is Esau,71Also known as Edom, the forebears of the Romans. as it is written: “Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau” (Genesis 32:12). “I will demand the life of man” – these are Israel,72Who are constantly being killed by the Romans. as it is stated: “You are My flock” (Ezekiel 34:17); “Flock of My pasture, you are man” (Ezekiel 34:31).