Surah Baqarah ayat 247 Tafsir Quran 2:247

﴿وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًا ۚ قَالُوا أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِّنَ الْمَالِ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَاهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾
[ البقرة: 247]

2:247 And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, Allah has sent to you Saul as a king." They said, "How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given any measure of wealth?" He said, "Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing [in favor] and Knowing."

Then their prophet said to them ‘Verily God has raised up Saul for you as king’ They said ‘How can he be king over us when we have better right than he to kingship since he is not of the tribe of monarchs or that of prophets; he Saul was a tanner or a shepherd; seeing he has not been given amplitude of wealth?’ which he can use to establish a kingdom. He the prophet said to them ‘God has chosen him over you for kingship and has increased him broadly amply in knowledge and body at that time he was the most knowledgeable and the most handsome of all the Children of Israel and the most perfect of character. God gives the kingship to whom He will in the way He does and there can be no objection; and God is Embracing in His bounty Knowing of those who deserve it.

Their prophet then said to them: Now Allah appointed Talut (Saul) as your king. But they said: How can he be given sovereignty over us when we claim priority in birth, rank and dignity and he is not as endowed with possessions and advantages! Their prophet said: Allah has chosen him to reign over you and has imparted to him a wealth of knowledge and privileged him with a distinguished stature, and Allah delegates His Authority to whom He will. Allah is Wasi‘un (Omnipresent) and Alimun

When the Israelites asked their Prophet to appoint a king over them, he appointed Talut ( Saul ), who was then a soldier.
But, Talut was not a descendant of the house of kings among them, which was exclusively in the offspring of Yahudha ( Judah ).
This is why they said: أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا ( How can he be a king over us ) meaning, how can he be the king for us, وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِّنَ الْمَالِ ( when we are fitter than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth ) They said that Talut was also poor and did not have the wealth that justifies him being king.
Some people stated that Talut used to bring water to the people, while others stated that his profession was dyeing skins.
The Jews, thus, disputed with their Prophet while they were supposed to obey him and to say good words to him. Their Prophet answered them: إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَـهُ عَلَيْكُمْ ( Verily, Allah has chosen him above you ) meaning, `Allah chose Talut from amongst you while having better knowledge about him.' Their Prophet stated, "I did not choose Talut to be your king on my own.
Rather, Allah has commanded that upon your request." Further: وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِ ( ...and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. ) meaning, `Talut is more knowledgeable and honorable than you, and stronger and more patient during combat, and has more knowledge of warfare.
In short, he has more knowledge and is stronger than you are.
The king should have sufficient knowledge, be fair looking and should have a strong soul and body.' He then said: وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِى مُلْكَهُ مَن يَشَآءُ ( And Allah grants His kingdom to whom He wills. ) meaning, Allah Alone is the Supreme Authority Who does what He wills and no one can ask Him about His actions, while they will be asked ( about their actions by Him ).
This is because Allah has perfect knowledge, wisdom and kindness with His creation.
Allah said: وَاللَّهُ وَسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ( And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower. ) meaning, His favor is encompassing and He grants His mercy to whom He wills.
He also knows those who deserve to be kings and those who do not deserve it.

(2:247) Their Prophet said to them, "Allah has appointed Saul *269 to be king over you." Hearing this, they replied, "How has he been entitled to become king over us? We have a better right to kingship than he, for he does not even possess enough riches." The Prophet replied, "Allah has preferred him to you and blessed him with abundant powers of mind and body. And Allah has the power to give His kingdom to whomever He wills: Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing."

And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, meaning

*269).
In the Bible he is called Saul.
He was a thirty-year-old Benjaminite youth.
'There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people' ( 1 Samuel 9: 2 ).
He went out in search of the lost asses of his father.
During this search, he passed through the house of Samuel and God informed Samuel that this was the person who had been chosen to govern the people of Israel.
Samuel brought Saul to his house, took a vial of oil, poured it on his head,.
kissed him and said: 'Has not the Lord anointed you to be the prince over His people of Israel? ' ( 1 Samuel 10: 1 ).
Samuel later called the people of Israel together and proclaimed Saul to be their king ( 1 Samuel 10: 17 ).

This was the second Israelite to be anointed by God's command to a position of leadership.
Earlier, Aaron had been anointed as the chief priest.
The third case of anointment was that of David, and the fourth that of Jesus.
There is no clear statement in the Qur'an regarding the designation of Talut ( the Saul of the Bible ) to prophethood.
The mere fact of his being appointed a ruler does not necessarily warrant considering him a Prophet as well.

 

When the Israelites asked their Prophet to appoint a king over them, he appointed Talut ( Saul ), who was then a soldier.
But, Talut was not a descendant of the house of kings among them, which was exclusively in the offspring of Yahudha ( Judah ).
This is why they said: أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا ( How can he be a king over us ) meaning, how can he be the king for us, وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِّنَ الْمَالِ ( when we are fitter than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth ) They said that Talut was also poor and did not have the wealth that justifies him being king.
Some people stated that Talut used to bring water to the people, while others stated that his profession was dyeing skins.
The Jews, thus, disputed with their Prophet while they were supposed to obey him and to say good words to him. Their Prophet answered them: إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَـهُ عَلَيْكُمْ ( Verily, Allah has chosen him above you ) meaning, `Allah chose Talut from amongst you while having better knowledge about him.' Their Prophet stated, "I did not choose Talut to be your king on my own.
Rather, Allah has commanded that upon your request." Further: وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِ ( ...and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. ) meaning, `Talut is more knowledgeable and honorable than you, and stronger and more patient during combat, and has more knowledge of warfare.
In short, he has more knowledge and is stronger than you are.
The king should have sufficient knowledge, be fair looking and should have a strong soul and body.' He then said: وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِى مُلْكَهُ مَن يَشَآءُ ( And Allah grants His kingdom to whom He wills. ) meaning, Allah Alone is the Supreme Authority Who does what He wills and no one can ask Him about His actions, while they will be asked ( about their actions by Him ).
This is because Allah has perfect knowledge, wisdom and kindness with His creation.
Allah said: وَاللَّهُ وَسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ( And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower. ) meaning, His favor is encompassing and He grants His mercy to whom He wills.
He also knows those who deserve to be kings and those who do not deserve it.

( The Prophet ) Samuel ( said unto them: Lo! Allah hath raised up ) identified ( Saul to be king for you. They said: How can ) it be justified that ( he have kingdom over us ) for he is not of royal descent ( when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is ) for we are of royal descent, ( since he hath not been given wealth enough ) to spend on the army? ( He ) Samuel ( said: Lo! Allah hath chosen him ) to be king and sovereign ( above you, and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom ) the knowledge of warfare ( and stature ) size and physical strength. ( Allah bestoweth His sovereignty on whom he will ) in this life even if he is not of royal descent. ( Allah is All-Embracing ) in His gift, ( All-Knowing ) about whom He gives to, because they said to their prophet that it was he who chose Saul rather than his being appointed by Allah.

And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them, "Indeed Allah has appointed Talut (Saul) as a king over you." They said, "How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth." He said: "Verily, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah grants His Kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower."

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