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SAMUEL
HA-NAGID Biography
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Beginning
in 1038, when the accession of the tyrant King Badis of Granada
propelled Samuel ha-Nagid to the height of his power, until the
Nagid's death in 1055, the Jewish statesman would spend several
months out of each year participating in military engagements
on behalf of the Muslim king.
Jews
were not known for military acuity or prowess, that place being
held by Andalusia's Arabs, Berbers, and Spaniards. But the Nagid
was a great exception. We know of his military activities mostly
from his poems. He may have shared with others the command of
the Granadan companies he led, but nonetheless he held commanding
positions during these campaigns.[1]
The
Nagid often referred to his military activities as being conducted
in behalf of his people, and the Jewish community certainly viewed
his victories as their own as well. Indeed, Samuel's first major
victory, over the army of Almeria, was celebrated by a special
Purim by Granada's Jews.[2]
Samuel's
rigorous military campaigns, which depleted his physical health,
were probably a major contributor his death at 62 or 63, just
after a last successful battle against Seville.[3]
His
death was met by tremendous grief throughout the Jewish world.
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The state of Granada
in general, and its Jewish vizier in particular, had numerous enemies
in the neighboring Arabic states. The army of Granada, under the command
of Samuel, often carried on warfare. Not infrequently Samuel's army
was surrounded on all sides, but the ingenious and calm warrior always
succeeded in delivering his army from danger and bringing it to brilliant
victory. These triumphs were celebrated by the heroic vizier in Hebrew
poems. After a hiatus of many centuries, Jewish battle poems expressing
praise and gratitude to the God of war, the mighty helper on the battlefield,
were again heard. Samuel's wine songs are awkward and crude, but his
songs of praise and battle poems are saturated with fiery enthusiasm,
with the flame of powerful feeling. At times the odor of blood is to
be smelled in them. The fervor of ancient Biblical days, the victorious
cry of the era of King David and his heroes, echo in them.
Characteristic is
the song of praise in which Samuel celebrates his triumph over the army
of his enemy Ibn Abbas. The paean begins with the glory to the "God
of might, the God of vengeance, the God who is above all praises and
laudations." Soon, however, the song of praise passes over into
a quiet mood of prayer, in which a confident plea to the God of mercy,
who takes up the cause of innocently shed blood and is the sure helper
of those who hold the sacred Torah precious, is heard. Immediately after
the heartfelt prayer the tone again changes. In the God-fearing man
is awakened the warrior who has just conquered his enemy. Intoxicated
with victory, he recounts the bloody details of the battle:
"Their strong
men lay on the battlefield, puffed up like bellows and pregnant women.
All together they lay, slaves and lords, princes and servants together.
With their king, the new Agag, they all lay around like dung on the
field and were not brought to burial. Only one out of a thousand was
saved, like single grapes in an abandoned vineyard. Blotted out is
Amalek's memorial from the Spanish land, his army scattered, his kingdom
destroyed . . .
The slain we left
for the jackals, for the leopards and wild boars; their flesh we gave
as a gift to the wolves of the field and the birds of heaven. And
great was the banquet, all were satiated. Over thorns and thistles
were their limbs dragged; the lionesses stilled their young with them
. . . Great and rich was the banquet prepared, and all were filled,
drunk on blood without measure. The hyenas made their rounds, and
the night was deafened with the cries of the ostriches . . .
And we conquered
their land, destroyed the fortresses and towers, subjugated villages
and towns, and overwhelmed the capital city with violence."
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[1]
Jefim Schirmann. "Samuel Hannagid, the Man, the Soldier, the
Politician." Jewish Social Studies, 2 (April, 1951),
p. 107. [back]
[2] Encyclopedia Judaica, "Samuel ha-Nagid."
[back]
[3] Schirmann, p. 126. [back] |
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From:
Zinberg, Israel. A History of Jewish Literature. Bernard
Martin, trans., ed. Copyright © 1988 by Ktav Publishing House, Inc.
(Hoboken, NY)" By permission of Ktav Publishing House, Inc. |
SAMUEL
HA-NAGID Biography
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