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King David’s Hostage Negotiations

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Posted By: Harlowe, 3/13/2025 11:18:02 PM

At the end of this week, Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Purim. The annual commemoration of the divine salvation from extermination has a special resonance this year. Haman, the Purim story’s central villain, the Persian Empire’s grand vizier, descended from the Amalekite peoples, has traditionally served as a stand-in for contemporary villains like Hitler, Stalin...as well as Hamas and other Islamic Jihadists. [Snip] There is much that Israel could have learned and still can learn from King David’s approach to hostage negotiations. The first thing is to eliminate moral doubt about its rightness through faith.

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The author points to political pressure from the Biden administration, EU, UN, other global forces and “domestic pressure campaigns insisting that hostage releases take priority over the destruction of Hamas” resulting in what began “as a Davidic war of principle and courage gave way to a Saulite political slog...putting Israel back in the same familiar no-win scenario of fighting Islamic terrorism” that “Hamas and its backers in the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar and others around the world had been counting on.” The narrative recalls young David’s decisive confrontation with Goliath as coming “in the name of the Lord of hosts. ... That moral certainty is sadly lacking today.”

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Reply 1 - Posted by: DVC 3/13/2025 11:46:47 PM (No. 1914148)
And we're he alive today, King David would say 'Kill all Hamas. No prisoners. '
21 people like this.

Reply 2 - Posted by: Highlander 3/14/2025 1:03:41 AM (No. 1914165)
Either please God, or please men. It’s impossible to do both. So, to do the right thing, please God.
17 people like this.

Reply 3 - Posted by: mifla 3/14/2025 4:40:13 AM (No. 1914185)
The bad guys keep taking hostages, because the good guys keep paying top rates for them. Time to stop this nonsense.
18 people like this.

Reply 4 - Posted by: Strike3 3/14/2025 7:28:10 AM (No. 1914245)
The Jews are one of the few peoples in the world that have been persecuted for centuries for no good reason, mostly at the hands of muslims, sometimes Europeans but sometimes they fought each other just for practice. Peace would be a nice change and they have earned it.
4 people like this.

Reply 5 - Posted by: The Remnants 3/14/2025 7:32:29 AM (No. 1914248)
Wonderful piece of writing. We can all learn from its wisdom..
14 people like this.

Reply 6 - Posted by: Michaelus 3/14/2025 8:07:41 AM (No. 1914259)
Um....David was chosen by God and anointed by Samuel not elected. David has only one heir and it ain't Bibi - even if Bibi is an effective and capable politician.....
4 people like this.

Reply 7 - Posted by: Harlowe 3/14/2025 1:04:07 PM (No. 1914437)
#6~ Scripture reveals that God selects heads of nations and that selection may be intentional or permissive; God’s will or God permitting the will of the people. (Haggai 2:20-23; 1 Chronicles 14:2; Daniel 2:21, 4:17; Romans 13:1-2; Revelation 1:4-5) Daniel 2:21 – “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others...” Psalm 22:28 – “For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” Proverbs 16:9 – “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Romans 13:1 – “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Whether heads of nations or ordinary citizens believing in God, must remember that God’s laws prevail over man’s laws. (Romans 13:1) When Peter and the apostles were brought before the high priest and the council and told to not teach in the name of Jesus, Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) There are times when disobeying man’s laws the consequence may be persecution, however, “reward is great in heaven...” (Matthew 5:11)
2 people like this.

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At the end of this week, Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Purim. The annual commemoration of the divine salvation from extermination has a special resonance this year. Haman, the Purim story’s central villain, the Persian Empire’s grand vizier, descended from the Amalekite peoples, has traditionally served as a stand-in for contemporary villains like Hitler, Stalin...as well as Hamas and other Islamic Jihadists. [Snip] There is much that Israel could have learned and still can learn from King David’s approach to hostage negotiations. The first thing is to eliminate moral doubt about its rightness through faith.
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