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Continuing with the theme of middah ke-neged middah that was introduced by the Mishna (8b) that we studied earlier, our Gemara focuses on some of the characters who are presented by the Mishna (9b) as prime examples of people who suffered this fate.
The Sages taught in a baraita: Five individuals were created with a characteristic that is akin to a representation of the One on High, and they were all stricken by that characteristic.
Samson was glorified in his strength, Saul in his neck (see I Samuel 9:2), Absalom in his hair, Zedekiah in his eyes, and Asa in his feet.
Saul was smitten in his neck, as it is written:
“Then said Saul to his armor-bearer: Draw your sword and thrust me through with it; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and make a mock of me. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore, Saul took his sword and fell upon it” ; he fell with his neck upon the sword.
We explore the story of death of Saul as it develops from the book of Samuel to Chronicles.