13 And Samuel told Saul, “You’ve acted unwisely; you didn’t obey the command of the Lord your God as He instructed you. Had you obeyed, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. – 1 Samuel: 13-14
The “House of David” is an extensive narrative, chronicling the life of David, who later ascended to the throne as the second king of Israel. God referred to David as a man possessing His likeness, and it was through his ancestry that the Messiah, in the form of Jesus Christ, was prophesied by the Lord.
Last week, we examined episodes 1-3 and were taken aback by the exceptional acting, awe-inspiring set designs, and faithful adaptation to biblical scripture. I expressed my view that episode 3, “The Anointing,” was the strongest of the three episodes Amazon Prime has released so far; will episode 4, “The Song of Moses,” continue this strong performance?
Episode 4: ‘The Song of Moses’
First, let’s briefly review the key events from the last three episodes as we lead up to finding David immersed in a vision. In this vision, he is meticulously cleaned by a convincingly animated surge of water. Upon regaining consciousness, Samuel informs him that he has been purified with the Holy Spirit. Notably, when Samuel lays his hands on David, he experiences another vision – this time of a blazing city. Samuel forewarns David that he perceives immense power and kindness within him, which will bring both blessings and curses.
Jesse debates with David’s siblings over whether Samuel truly was anointed as a prophet. Some see him as divine messenger, while others think he has gone mad. Eliab, who is the most open-minded towards David, strongly advises against revealing the anointment. It’s hard to discern if Eliab’s stance is more about shielding his brother or harboring jealousy.
Tension arises when Joab, a relative and loyal solider of King Saul, shows up in Judah with a summons. The family feels a deep sense of apprehension as he reveals that it is actually David who has been summoned to the capital. They are aware that if Saul discovers David was anointed, he will be executed. Jesse urgently sends Eliab to accompany David to the capital and safeguard him at any cost.
A significant portion of this episode centers around Eshbaal, Saul’s son who seems more interested in indulgence than ruling. As Saul’s reign becomes increasingly challenging, Eshbaal proposes a scheme to divert the people, yet his request for leadership is rejected. It’s clear that Eshbaal yearns for his father’s approval, but Saul’s reluctance to grant him power proves shrewd.
However, Eshbaal endangers Saul’s kingdom when a man from the tribe of Dan accuses him of dishonoring his daughter, citing the Law of Moses which demands stoning as punishment. To make matters worse, Eshbaal publicly insults the father and daughter in front of the king, escalating the situation further.
On another occasion, Queen Ahinoam skillfully de-escalates a crisis when King Saul’s frenzy prevents him from making a decision. A poignant moment unfolds as the queen comforts a bruised Eshbaal with an anecdote from his past, though this tale was merely a cover for her forthcoming strategy. As my earlier critique suggests, the queen always prioritizes Saul’s reign, and she orders that Eshbaal be exiled to Endor – a place for lawbreakers – due to his desecration of a man’s daughter. The father accepts this verdict, thereby maintaining the kingdom’s unity.
In my view, this particular scene was incredibly intense as Eshbaal begged for his life while being overpowered. However, I believe that the impact could have been stronger if they had eliminated the sequence where Mirab runs and engages in a conversation with Eshbaal. The dialogue between them seemed to suggest that Eshbaal was not in imminent peril, which weakened the overall effect of the scene.
David reaches the capital city, where it’s revealed he was invited by Michal, Saul’s daughter whom he met in Judah, for a performance before her father. This aligns with biblical accounts, as David’s music temporarily alleviated Saul’s fits of madness. However, there’s an undercurrent of peril, as it appears the witch from Baal, who the queen maintains as a confidante, recognizes David on sight.
In certain parts of the story, we see David and Mychal growing more familiar with each other. He’s rather shy and hesitant around her, as she demonstrates to him the song of Moses from the sacred text, a piece that David managed to compose music for Saul. I chuckled when they depicted how thrilled David was to win over Mychal with his composition. It’s amusing contrasted with the grave peril he finds himself in, having a crush on a stunning woman.
Even though Eliab remained cautious, understanding fully well that they were deep within enemy territory following Samuel’s anointment of David. The tension escalated when Joab led Eliab to Abner, who had a spy named Doeg from earlier events. Doeg informed them about the location of Samuel’s chosen one in Judah. Abner then demanded that they pick a side since they were both from the same tribe. It was clear to Eliab that Joab was deceitful and loyal to the king, so he knew he had to be extremely careful in the capital to safeguard David’s secret.
The episode concludes with a suspenseful moment as Eshbaal’s convoy en route to Endor is ambushed, leaving him mysteriously rescued by an individual aware that he’s the monarch’s offspring.
As a film enthusiast, I found “The Song of Moses” engaging, yet it didn’t quite reach the heights of the preceding three episodes. The narrative flowed well, and there was an undeniable sense of tension, but the pace seemed slightly off compared to what I’ve grown accustomed to in this series. Nevertheless, this minor misstep hasn’t dampened my anticipation for “House of David.” We’re now midway through the season, and I eagerly await unraveling the intricate plot threads that lie ahead.
Take a look at the “House of David” on Amazon Prime over there. For reading the “Song of Moses” as it appears in the Bible, check out Deuteronomy 32:1 to 43.
In this version, I’ve attempted to use more conversational language and make the text flow better for easier understanding.
Take a look at my action-packed superhero book titled “Fiasco of Adventures” right over here or here. Also, don’t forget to visit my freshly launched website, TheMegacosm.com!
Read More
- When Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Date? Reports Explained
- Invincible Season 3 Reviews Deliver the Best Rotten Tomatoes Score Possible
- Who Is Returning on Days of Our Lives This Week?
- Solana Leaves Competition In The Dust: Blazing Speed To Fuel Price Surge?
- ‘As long as audience believes they’re husband and wife’: Pragya Jaiswal on working with Nandamuri Balakrishna despite double age gap
- Black Panther 3 Producer Gives Clarity on Denzel Washington’s Marvel Role
- Telegram Rolls Out ‘Stars’ for In-App Purchases
- Godzilla Minus One 2 Update Given, Will Have Bigger Budget Than First Movie
- Tether’s Surprising Move: Acquires Minority Stake in Juventus FC, JUV Token Soars 🚀
- Dead Man’s Wire Cast Adds Colman Domingo to Gus Van Sant’s Hostage Thriller
2025-03-06 21:45