Summary of Haftarah Shabbat Zachor
Shabbat Zachor is one of the four special Sabbaths that come before Passover. Shekalim, Zachor, Para, and HaChodesh. The Mishnah explains that “Zachor” is read on the Sabbath prior to Purim. Zachor is the first word used in the special maftir reading of Deuteronomy 25:17-19
V 17-19 Remember (zakor) what Amalek did to you along the way when you came from Egypt, how me met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall come about when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the LORD you God give you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget. (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)
On Shabbat Zachor, we replace the regular haftarah portion with 1 Samuel 15:1-34, (Ashkenazim begin in 15:2), which tells the story of King Saul’s war against the Amalekites. Samuel the prophet delivers a message from God to King Saul. He instructs him to destroy the Amalekites, every human being and animal.
Saul raises his army and goes to war against Amalek. He warns the Kenites to withdraw from the area, lest they suffer in battle. He defeats the Amalekites but disobeys the word of the LORD by sparing Agag, the Amalekite king, and the best of the livestock. The LORD tells Samuel that Saul has disqualified himself as king. Samuel meet Saul and the army at Gilgal to deliver the message. He rebukes Saul for sparing the cattle. Saul protests innocence, claiming that he spared only the best of the livestock for the sake of sacrifice. He also blames them men.
Samuel announces that he has forfeited the kingdom. As he turns to leave, Saul lays hold of his garment and tears the corner. Samuel interprets the event as a prophetic sign that the LORD will tear the kingdom from Saul and give it one more worthy. Samuel agrees to publicly save Saul’s dignity by participating in a sacrifice. Then the prophet takes a sword and kills King Agag before the LORD.
The haftarah portion connects the Torah’s commandment to blot out the memory of Amalek from under “heaven” with the story of Esther. Just as Saul was the son of Kish from the tribe or Benjamin, so was Mordechai a Benjamite from the line of Kish. Just as Saul defeated Agag, the Amalekite king, Mordechai thwarted Haman, the “Agagite.” According to Rabbinic tradition, between Saul’s capture and Samuel’s execution of King Agag, the Amalekite sired a child who became the forefather of Haman the Agagite.
from FFOZ Voice of the Prophets
ffoz.org