Allah Almighty says:
“Have you not considered the assembly of the Children of Israel after Moses, when they said to a prophet of theirs, ‘Appoint for us a king, and we will fight in the way of Allah…’” (Al-Baqarah: 246) — until His saying:
“But Allah is full of bounty to the worlds.” (Al-Baqarah: 251)
So, who is this noble prophet mentioned in these noble verses, who came after Moses (peace be upon him)?
According to the books of tafsir, the prophet referred to in these verses, though not named explicitly, is Prophet Shamwil, known as Samuel, as mentioned by the scholars of exegesis.
Ibn Kathir said in Stories of the Prophets: “His name is Samwil with a ‘seen’ — it is also said Samu’il or Ashmu’il ibn Bali ibn Alqamah ibn Yarkham. He was among the descendants of Harun (Aaron). Samwil means ‘Ishmael’ in the Hebrew tongue.”
Al-Tha’labi and others narrated that when the Amalekites overpowered the Children of Israel, killed many, and took many captive, and after prophecy ceased for a time, Allah sent them their prophet Shamwil — whose story with them is what Allah has related to us in His Book.
Ibn Kathir continues:
“The king their prophet Shamwil appointed for them was Talut ibn Qays ibn Afeel ibn Saru ibn Tahurat ibn Afi’ih ibn Anis ibn Binyamin ibn Yaqub ibn Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Khalil.”
When the Children of Israel asked their prophet Shamwil (Samuel) for a king after Moses (peace be upon him), Allah chose Talut (Saul) for them. But the Israelites did not see him as worthy of kingship. Talut, however, was gifted with vast knowledge and physical stature. Shamwil told them that a sign of his kingship would be the return of the Ark — the Tabut — which the Amalekites had taken, and that the angels would carry it to Talut’s house as an honour. They accepted him thereafter.
Allah says:
“And their prophet said to them, ‘Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you in which is assurance from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.’” (Al-Baqarah: 248)
When Talut set out with the army, he said:
“Indeed, Allah will test you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, excepting one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand.”
But they drank from it, except a few of them. When he had crossed it with those who believed, they said: “There is no power for us today against Goliath and his soldiers.” But those certain that they would meet Allah said: “How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient.”
When they went forth to [face] Goliath and his soldiers, they said:
“Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”
So they defeated them by permission of Allah, and Dawud (David) killed Goliath, and Allah gave him kingship and wisdom and taught him what He willed. And if it were not for Allah repelling people, some by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted — but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds.
(See Al-Baqarah: 249–251)
The Ark of the Covenant
When they asked for a sign that Talut was truly chosen, their prophet said: “A sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you.” According to Al-Zamakhshari, this Ark was the Tabut al-Tawrah, the chest of the Torah that Moses used to carry before battle; it brought the Israelites calm and assurance.
In the Ark was “Sakinah” (tranquillity) from their Lord and relics left by the family of Moses and Aaron — such as Moses’ staff, his garments, and some of the tablets on which the Torah was written.
Ibn Abbas said the angels carried the Ark between the heavens and the earth until they set it down before Talut and the people watched.
Talut’s Army and the Test
Talut assembled the army to fight the Amalekites led by Goliath (Jalut), the mighty warrior feared by all. Seventy or eighty thousand young men of the Children of Israel were chosen and marched with him to face the enemy.
But Talut, knowing their weakness, tested them on the road with the river between Palestine and Jordan: whoever drank from it was not fit to continue, except one who took only a handful to quench his thirst.
Most failed the test — seventy-six thousand drank, and only four thousand crossed with him.
When they faced Goliath’s army, fear struck many. Some said: “There is no strength for us today against Goliath and his forces.”
But the righteous among them reminded the others: “How often has a small group overcome a large one by Allah’s permission? And Allah is with the patient.”
David’s Victory
When the battle commenced, the believers prayed:
“Our Lord, pour upon us patience, plant our feet firmly, and grant us victory over the disbelievers.”
Allah granted them victory: they defeated Goliath’s army, and Dawud (David) — then a soldier in Talut’s ranks — killed Goliath, the tyrant leader.
Allah granted Dawud kingship and prophethood and taught him from His knowledge. Ibn Kathir mentions that Talut had promised to marry Dawud to his daughter and share his rule if he defeated Goliath — a promise he fulfilled. After Talut, kingship passed to Dawud along with the honour of divine revelation.
Allah says:
“And Dawud killed Goliath; and Allah gave him the kingship and wisdom and taught him what He willed.” (Al-Baqarah: 251)
The Qur’an clarifies that Dawud was a soldier under Talut’s command at that time — he was not king yet. The kingship came to him later, by Allah’s will.
Key Quranic Reference:
(Al-Baqarah: 246–252)
