The Saul and David 'Verse

By Ben Guthrie

The Bible's stories of Saul and David are just that—stories. They are not merely a single narrative, but rather a universe of characters and events. In that vein, The Saul and David 'Verse tells many stories in its 64 poems, but they are divided into three main parts: The Tragedy of King Saul tells of Saul's rise to power, his conflict with Samuel, Jonathan's exploits, David's growing fame, and Saul's descent into paranoia, as well as discoursing on the difference between gig work and full-time employment. The History of King David, Part 1 details David's transformation from outlaw to king, civil war with the remnants of Saul's family, Joab's blood-soaked rise to influence, David's construction of a godly golden age in Israel, then how he threw it all away, as well as debate on the proper response to allegations of sexual impropriety by a person in power when said person is on your side. The History of King David, Part 2 continues with the chaos of David's latter reign, Absalom's resentment and rebellion, Joab's further exploits, how further sin nearly destroyed David's people, and of course a comparison of male and female intelligence. Ben Guthrie's first collection of poetry is by turns funny, inspiring, and tragic, and this mashup of Biblical source material with everything from the epic to the spy thriller, rendered into a variety of poetic forms, reveals new meanings in those timeless tales of Saul and David.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ben Guthrie
• Release date: Oct 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781370496563

Ben Guthrie

Ben Guthrie is a transcriptionist by day and an author by night. He has composed both poetry and prose in the past, but for now his focus is poetry. He has long been interested in artistic explorations of Christianity, and Christian explorations of the arts, going so far as to get an M.Litt in the subject. He does not use social media, for his poetry is considerably more interesting than his life.

Book preview

The Saul and David ’Verse

By Ben Guthrie

The Saul and David ’Verse

Copyright 2019 by Ben Guthrie

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

ISBN 978-1-370-49656-3

Cover design by Daniel Guthrie

Contents

THE TRAGEDY OF KING SAUL

Proem

They tell you his height made him king

The Ballad of Saul and Ammon

The Spiral

My Sacrifice and Vow

The Philistines shouted, ‘The moles’

A Most Undisciplined Soldier

The Matter of the Amalekites

Goliath was bigger than most

The Exchange

The Song of the Israelite Women

To Michal, from David

That devious king set a bride price

The Difference Between an Independent Contractor and a Salaried Employee

The Ballad of David and Keilah

Intervention

It was David who’d guarded his sheep

Intervention: Second Verse, Same As the First

The Sons of Zeruiah Live—One Night Only

A fetching young medium from Endor

Mount Gilboa

THE HISTORY OF KING DAVID, PART 1

In Media Res

A deceptive Amalekite came

To My Young Son

The Mighty Men

The Grudge

Whether Abner had sex or did not

Matrimonial Diplomacy

To David, from Michal

Bloody Ties

The Ballad of Joab and Jerusalem

Warrior’s Chant

Those Women Are Singing Again

Burying the Lede

That respectable wife of the king

Who Am I?

Two Memories of Mephibosheth

A King Errs

When a sextuply-married dude, Dave here

Too Good to Let Live

When You’re King, They Let You Do It (The Cynic and the Suck-up)

Story Time with Nathan

Seven Days

THE HISTORY OF KING DAVID, PART 2

Hamartia

The Heir

Cousin Jonadab, nihilist pest

Torn

Murmurs in the Palace

Jonadab, loyal only to cunning

Grandparents in High Places

Abishai’s Theory of Manliness

Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Low-Information Voter

Sheen of Justice

The Hushai File: Declassified

‘Any fool knows he should do what I tell’

The Death of Absalom

No Lament for Absalom

The Reason Wisdom Is Personified as a Woman

Ode to the Fifth Rib

Mount Moriah

Appendix

Acknowledgments

About the Author

The Tragedy of King Saul

There once was a Benjaminite

Who looked like a king and could fight.

He broke holy laws

And was slaughtered because

He trusted in only his might.

Proem

The prophet Samuel and tall-statured Saul,

Tall-statured Saul and ruddy David stand

In conflict for the rule of Israel.

The long-haired seer had judged the people justly,

Defeated enemies by aid of God

The Lord of Hosts and Fear of Israel.

That same Lord God, when Samuel’s sons took bribes,

Approved a king like other nations had.

But whose line would rule, that of the tallest man

Of Benjamin, who was anointed first,

Or that of the ruddy Judean shepherd,

Anointed second choice in troubled time,

Would rest on who could win the favor of

The Lord, who judges not as foolish men,

But looks past merits, flaws, and kin for those

Who trust, obey, and seek redemption from their sin.

They tell you his height made him king,

And it’s true, though not how you may think.

Because when he tried

From his crowning to hide

His size let them find him first thing.

The Ballad of Saul and Ammon

The Ammonites were out for blood

Besieging Jabesh town,

And no man dared to risk his life

To strike the pagans down.

If fear was ruling Israel,

King Saul would rule that fear.

He sent to every farmer there

The message stated here:

"If you don’t join my army now,

Observe this piece of steak.

For that will be your oxen’s fate

If arms you do not take."

Three hundred thousand newly brave

Companions came to Saul.

Together over Ammonites

He led them by God’s call.

Now Jabesh stands because of Saul,

Forever grateful they,

And Israel knows God’s chosen king

Is Saul, so they obey.

The Spiral

Said Saul, I don’t trust that I’m able,

Said Samuel, "I trust that you are.

The Spirit of God will enable

Your tongue to speak words from afar."

Said Saul, "I must have some assurance,

Your backing and guidance in rule."

Said Samuel, "To rule with endurance

The book of God’s law is your tool."

Said Saul, "Your blood rites give me power.

With you at my side we’ll succeed.

Just give me support at this hour."

Said Samuel, God’s power you need.

Said Saul, "Don’t rebuke me, and really,

Be nice, or say nothing at all.

But so I may always act freely,

Respond at the moment I call."

My Sacrifice and Vow

I do not see what else I could have done.

I do not see why God would judge me wrong.

My son, my Jonathan had won the day,

Destroyed a garrison of Philistines.

But in response the Philistines brought up

Ten times as many men as followed me.

So what was I to do? Fight them alone?

No