Wednesday, 30 July 2014

SAUL: Manic Depression? Bi-polar Affective Disorder?


Saul was a king who reigned from c.1029-1005 BCE and was the son of a wealthy and influential Kish from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:1). He was chosen to be the first King of Israel in response to the people’s demand for an earthly king (1 Samuel 8:5). According to 1 Samuel 13:1 Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned forty-two years over Israel. He was appointed by the prophet Samuel and was the father of Jonathan.

Throughout the book of 1 Samuel King Saul’s mood appears to fluctuate and his character change. His first episode appears to be found in 1 Samuel 10:10-13

‘When they were going from there to Gibeah a band of prophets met him and the spirit of God possessed him and he fell into a prophetic frenzy along with them. 11 When all who knew him before saw how he prophesied with the prophets the people said to one another “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 A man of the place answered “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb “ Is Saul among the prophets?” 13 When his prophetic frenzy had ended he went home.’

The word for prophecy in this text appears as "Hith-pael" in the original Hebrew.  As the Dean of Canterbury pointed out, the Hebrew word for prophecy “Hith-pael” is never used in the Old Testament for real true prophecy, rather the word “Niphal” is used. Thus usage of the word prophecy (Hith-pael) in this text suggests that Saul was in a state of frenzy, speaking in words that he did not know the meaning and acting like a possessed crazy man.

Like many who struggle with mental health it appears that Saul continued about his duties, as his illness affected him only from time to time (1 Samuel 16:16). However, Saul suffered with fear. He feared the people (1 Samuel 15:24); David (1 Samuel 18:12, 18:15) and the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:11, 28:5). During his ‘attacks’ Saul seems to find relief in some music therapy.  

‘And whenever the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it in his hand, and Saul would be relieved and feel better and the evil spirit would depart from him.’ (1 Samuel 16:23)

However, Saul’s mood seemed to fluctuate and he became unpredictable. During music sessions Saul was known to lash out at David with unexplainable sudden lunges from the spear. (1 Samuel 18:10-11/1 Samuel 19:9-10)

Saul’s affection for David changed. Although David was helpful in slaying Goliath in a battle (1 Samuel 17), and was a faithful warrior, he became a threat. Saul became preoccupied by David’s increasing fame and jealous of his success (1 Samuel 18:9, 28, 29). Saul tried to eliminate David. He sent men to try to kill him and eventually conducted a nationwide manhunt to hunt David down. On a side note, many of the prayers in the book of Psalms are David’s response to being hunted.

Saul’s mental health continued to deteriorate. It was on his search for David, that Saul appeared to have another episode.

‘He went then towards Naioth in Ramah; and the spirit of God came upon him. As he was going he fell into a prophetic frenzy until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He too stripped off his clothes and he too fell into a frenzy before Samuel. He lay naked all that day and all that night. Therefore it is said, is Saul also among the prophets?’  (1 Samuel 19:23)
 
In short, King Saul struggled with mental health issues. He suffered with paranoia, displayed extreme mood swings -euphoria (end of chapter 11) to extreme gloom (1 Samuel 16:15,23), seemed to see things that were not there and had fits of crying (1 Samuel 24:16). His mood affected his decision-making, his behaviour was irrational and he showed poor judgement. In the end Saul took his own life. (1 Samuel 31:4).

King Saul suffered terribly. It would appear that he could have benefited from some therapy and medication. That being said, King Saul is a reminder that mental illness can affect anyone.


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