Hebrew Word Study – Hollow Tube – Chalal   Cheth Lamed Lamed

I Samuel 12:23: “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right.” 

I find this to be a very profound verse.  Samuel is really feeling rejected.  In 1 Samuel 8:7 we get the background to 12:23: “And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” 

Samuel wasn’t just a prophet, he was also the last of the judges that ruled Israel. Although not designated as a king, he performed the role of a king.  A king was basically a military leader as was a judge. You will often hear the President of the United States say that his first and primary duty as the President is to protect the people of the United States.  During the pandemic that our world recently experienced the first person the people of the United States turned to for leadership and guidance in the fight against this virus was the President.  If he handles this crisis well he will likely be re-elected as President.  If the people felt he handled the crisis poorly he will be replaced in the next election. 

Was there a difference between a judge and a king in Ancient Israel? Both devoted their lives to protecting the people, both would call up a military in times of trouble, both would literally judge disputes between people, and both would guide the economy of the nation and find ways to provide for the people during times of famine.  In return, the people would grant loyalty and obedience to the judge or king. 

So, why was Samuel not a king but a judge? There is an old Latin phrase that shows the difference between a king and a judge.  “Rex lex, lex Rex.”   The king is law or the law is king. The Declaration of Independence makes the United States of America exceptional and unique in this modern world.  We are the only nation founded on the principle that God’s law trumps all human law.  Throughout the Declaration of Independence, we find phrases such as “Appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World,”  “self-evident truths” or “certain inalienable rights” granted by our “Creator.”  The Office of the President was not created so the occupant of that office was to be a monarch or king, rex lex but lex rex.  In one sense he is a judge, although not in the truest sense as our nation does have numerous man-made laws which do trump God’s laws such as abortion.  However, technically the President is one who is subject to the laws of God.  A king is subject to human law which may be based upon Divine law but also laws created by man. 

The people of Israel wanted a king, one who would be subject to laws they created in addition to the laws of God.  Laws that would allow them to make trade agreements with other nations and treaties with other nations.  More importantly, they would form military alliances with other nations.  God’s laws strictly declared that God would protect the nation of Israel, they did not need to form treaties or trade agreements.  Their judges did not need to marry princesses from foreign nations to establish alliances and foreign protection. 

1 Samuel 8:7: “And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”  The people of Israel wanted a king to govern their nation and not be ruled by a judge who simply interpreted the laws of God which prevented foreign influence and protection. Samuel felt that the people were rejecting him but God assured Samuel it was not him they were rejecting but God.  It broke Samuel’s heart that the people wanted a human leader that they could see who would likely trump God’s laws rather than trusting in an unseen God. 

He probably felt like telling the people: “Up your nose, you’re on your own.”  But instead, he assured the people of his prayers, not only because he cared, but because it would be a sin if he did not pray for them.  The word for sin is chatah which is an archer’s term for missing your target. 

What fascinates me is the use of the word chalilah which is usually rendered as God forbid or far be it from me.  The word chalilah comes from the root word chalal which is a play on the word halal praise.   The word chalal is the same word used for a flute, a hollow tube that you blow into producing a musical sound or a halal, praise to God.   What Samuel is saying is that once they have a king, he, as their prophet, would bow out. He would not walk off into the sunset and not be heard from again.  Instead, he will be a chalal a hollow tube, powerless, but he would sin if he did not pray for the people. The word pray is palal which is another play on the word chalal.   The picture is that his prayers will be like the wind of God passing through his powerless tube producing beautiful musical praise to God. 

As we learned earlier palal in its Semitic root is a word for a notch in a tent peg. As a prophet, it was Samuel’s duty to keep his people connected to God and it would be his prayers that would help to keep the people connected to God so that when trouble came they would not be blown away.  To not pray would mean he was not fulfilling his duty to his people and he would be sinning if he did not pray. 

Many of us as Christians feel a call to prayer for our nation as it goes through a time of trial and difficulty. We may feel a call to pray for our church, our family or even our friends. Like Samuel the prophet, we have a duty to those we are called to pray for.  We may be just a hollow tube but when we pray palal for others, for their fears and/or their affliction, the winds or breath of God will pass through this hollow tube chalal, creating a beautiful praise to God halal.  That palal will then be the notch in the tent peg of the one(s) we praying for that connects them to heaven and earth. Our prayer on their behalf will be a praise to God that will keep them tightly bound to God as the winds of trials and tribulations sweep through their lives bringing fear, affliction, or financial crisis.  

That is likely the second most important prayer we will offer to God, for if we do not pray for those we are called to pray for, we will be sinning.   

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