בֶּן־שָׁנָ֖ה שָׁא֣וּל בְּמָלְכֹ֑ו וּשְׁתֵּ֣י שָׁנִ֔ים מָלַ֖ךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Shaʾul was year old when he began to reign, and he reigned over Yisraʾel for two years.
Morphology
- בֶּן־שָׁנָ֖ה (ben-shanah) – Root: בן (ben), שנה (shanah); Form: Noun construct phrase, masculine singular; Translation: “one year old”; Notes: This phrase has been debated due to its meaning in context.
- שָׁא֣וּל (Shaʾul) – Root: שאל (shaʾal); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shaʾul”; Notes: The first king of Yisraʾel.
- בְּמָלְכֹ֑ו (be-maleko) – Root: מלך (malakh); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “when he began to reign”; Notes: Indicates the time of his kingship.
- וּשְׁתֵּ֣י (u-shtei) – Root: שנים (shenayim); Form: Numeral, feminine construct; Translation: “two”; Notes: Links to “years.”
- שָׁנִ֔ים (shanim) – Root: שנה (shanah); Form: Noun, feminine plural absolute; Translation: “years”; Notes: Duration of reign.
- מָלַ֖ךְ (malakh) – Root: מלך (malakh); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he reigned”; Notes: Completed action.
- עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “over”; Notes: Indicates authority.
- יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: The nation of Yisraʾel.
The Translation Challenges of 1 Samuel 13:1
The translation of 1 Samuel 13:1 from Hebrew into English presents significant textual and interpretative difficulties. Unlike most biblical passages that introduce a king’s reign with clear numerical data, this verse appears incomplete and problematic. The Masoretic Text (MT), which serves as the standard Hebrew text for most biblical translations, lacks a critical detail: the age of Saul when he began to reign. This omission has led to centuries of debate among scholars, translators, and rabbinic commentators.
Fragmentary and Unclear Text
The Hebrew text of 1 Samuel 13:1 reads:
בֶּן־שָׁנָה שָׁאוּל בְּמָלְכֹו וּשְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים מָלַךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל
A literal, word-for-word translation would render it as:
“Son of a year Saul in his reigning, and two years he reigned over Israel.”
This translation, however, is nonsensical in its plain reading. The phrase בֶּן־שָׁנָה (ben-shanah), meaning “a year old,” implies that Saul was an infant when he began his reign, which is obviously incorrect. In the expected formula for biblical kingship announcements, two numerical values are typically given: the king’s age at the start of his reign and the duration of his rule. In this case, the former is conspicuously absent or lost.
Historical Textual Issues
1 Samuel 13:1 appears to have suffered from textual corruption over time. The Masoretic scribes, who meticulously preserved the Hebrew text, may have inherited a defective or incomplete manuscript at this juncture. While scribal errors were rare due to the rigorous copying process, occasional omissions or misinterpretations did occur, especially when dealing with numerical data.
Unlike other passages that introduce a king’s reign (such as 2 Samuel 5:4, which states, “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years”), this verse lacks a parallel textual tradition that could clarify the missing information. Without external confirmation, scholars are left to speculate about how the original text may have read.
Rabbinic Interpretations and Explanations
In light of the textual irregularities, Jewish commentators have sought to provide alternative explanations. One of the most influential interpretations comes from Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 1040–1105), who suggests that בֶּן־שָׁנָה does not refer to Saul’s literal age but rather serves as a metaphor. According to Rashi, Saul was “like a one-year-old” in terms of his innocence, meaning he was sinless at the beginning of his reign. This interpretation attempts to reconcile the seemingly absurd phrase by offering a moral or ethical dimension rather than a numerical one.
Rashi further connects this verse to the following passage, noting that in his first year of kingship, Saul selected 3,000 soldiers (1 Samuel 13:2). This contextual link suggests that the verse is introducing the events of Saul’s reign rather than strictly following a rigid numerical formula.
Translation Strategies
Due to the ambiguity of the Hebrew text, translations of 1 Samuel 13:1 vary widely in how they address the missing numerical value. Some of the approaches include:
- Literal Translation:
“Son of a year was Saul in his reigning, and two years he reigned over Israel.”
This approach maintains the exact wording but results in an unclear or misleading sentence. - Interpretative Translation:
“Saul was [age unspecified] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel.”
This translation acknowledges the missing number and leaves a gap to indicate uncertainty.
Each of these approaches has its strengths and weaknesses, but none fully resolve the textual problem.
Conclusion
The challenges in translating 1 Samuel 13:1 highlight the complexities of biblical textual transmission. Rabbinic commentators, particularly Rashi, offer a theological interpretation that sidesteps the numerical issue by focusing on Saul’s moral state at the beginning of his reign.
Ultimately, this verse stands as a fascinating example of how ancient texts, preserved through millennia, can still pose puzzles for scholars today. Whether due to scribal error, textual loss, or an unconventional literary style, 1 Samuel 13:1 remains one of the most debated passages in biblical translation.