Is Israeli PM Netanyahu King Saul and Naftali Bennett David (The Messiah/Moshiach)?

Is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a modern day King Saul and Naftali Bennett a modern day David?

It didn’t occur to me until I read that PM Netanyahu, as the head of the government ministry on security affairs, decided to stop providing state security for Naftali Bennett this past August as he is entitled to as a former Defense Minister. Previously, former Defense Ministers were entitled to 5 years of security. Bennett’s was cancelled after 3 months. And this is right after both the heads of Hamas and Hezbollah made direct threats to Bennett. It’s like Netanyahu is wanting him dead.

Then a lightbulb went on in my head.

It’s just like when King Saul tried to have David killed. And then I thought….

Is Naftali Bennett The Moshiach?

The Rabbis keep saying the Moshiach is coming. That Netanyahu will be the last Prime Minister. That Netanyahu will give the keys to the Moshiach. Well, if you think the Moshiach is just going to come down from the clouds, then you wouldn’t even be paying attention to how the dynamic between these two resemble the literal historic dynamic played out 3000 years ago. So let’s take a look at the history and similarities of both:

They Both Worked Together

David worked for King Saul as his armor bearer. He was recruited to play music for him whenever Saul got into one of his ‘moods’.

Naftali Bennett was a member of Likud. He was Netanyahu’s chief of staff for 2 years and was in charge of Netanyahu’s primary campaign to help him become leader of the Likud party.

Why Was God Against Saul?

Saul repeatedly disobeyed the Prophet Samuel’s instructions. When going to war against the Amalekites, he let the King and the livestock live, going against God as commanded in Deuteronomy 25:19. He was militarily successful until David killed Goliath.

After David killed Goliath, David became seen as the better warrior. Saul fears David’s growing popularity and henceforth views him as a rival to the throne. He actively seeks to kill David and kills anyone who helps him.

Saul failed to reach a decisive victory against the Philistines. He died in battle against them. David later was victorious against the Philistines and won favor among the people thereby creating a United Kingdom of Israel.

Netanyahu And Bennett’s Rivalry

Naftali Bennett was always a staunch supporter of Netanyahu. However, he has also been very vocal when he disagreed with him. This rivalry is what forced Bennett to leave Likud to form his own party(ies) mostly with Ayelet Shaked, also formerly of the Likud and a frequent target of Netanyahu’s slander and political backstabbing.

It was only recently, when Netanyahu gave Bennett the Defense Minister role, (only because he didn’t want Bennett to make any deals with another party), that Bennett was able to actually implement what Netanyahu had always promised in regards to how to handle Gaza, the PA, and building in Area C of the West Bank. It’s Bennett’s success as Defense Minister that people finally see Netanyahu’s failure in these areas. So it’s no wonder that Bennett’s term as Defense Minister was short-lived after the Unity Government of Likud and Blue and White was created and Benny Gantz (a former military chief of staff) was given the job. Gantz has not lived up to Israelis’ expectations, and hence Bennett is seen as the preferred leader.

The Coronavirus Accelerated The Growing Distrust Both Between Netanyahu And Bennett And Between Netanyahu And Israelis

Naftali Bennett took a leading role in the first response to the epidemic. And he was perceived as being in control and successful. This was while he was Defense Minister. After Bennett left his role as Defense Minister, Netanyahu was the one making all the decisions. They have not been successful and it’s become abundantly clear that he is only concerned with retaining his power as PM over the interests of Israelis.

And that is why Bennett’s party Yamina is growing in the polls. Bennett hasn’t actually killed Goliath, but people see the possibility that he may be the one to do it.

How Netanyahu Has Failed To Deliver A Decisive Victory Over The Palestinians

Netanyahu was elected the first time as a result of backlash over the Oslo Accords. He wanted reciprocity from the Arabs in negotiations. Netanyahu was elected the second time as a result of backlash against the Gaza disengagement. He was always against the concept of ‘Land for Peace’. But during his entire time as Prime Minister, he has done nothing to advance a solution to either Gaza or the West Bank. He has only fought off continued attempts of the former failed strategies.

In recent years, he has even given in to various Arab demands without reciprocity due to pressure from International leaders, including America, thereby failing his own stated beliefs and promises to Israelis.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has failed time and again to take decisive action against either Hamas in Gaza or the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank in favor of the status quo and appeasement. This is done out of fear of an increase of violence so he can say he’s been successful as a leader of stability and security. Why? For International approval and his own legacy at the expense of his own country’s security and future interests.

How Would The Transfer To Bennett Happen?

People forget that David didn’t immediately proceed King Saul. One of Saul’s sons Ish-Bosheth was named King after Saul by Abner, the captain of Saul’s Army. The Tribe of Judah seceded from the rule of the House of Saul by proclaiming David as its king and war ensued. David’s faction eventually prevailed against Ish-bosheth’s, but the war did not come to a close until Abner joined David.

Ish-Bosheth was assassinated after 2 years by his own Army captains (not Abner) who went to David hoping to be rewarded. Instead, they were killed for Treason by David.

So How Does This Relate To Netanyahu And Bennett?

Maybe this is the political war we see between Netanyahu’s party the Likud and Bennett’s party Yamina. How Likud is losing people to Yamina. But if David (Bennett) is not immediately elected King (PM), then maybe that would mean Likud would elect someone else as head of the party who would be PM, but only for a short time. They would eventually be dissatisfied with him, and also ‘defect’ to Yamina with Bennett as it’s head making Yamina the largest party and therefore Bennett as PM.

So Is Naftali Bennett Really The Moshiach/Messiah?

While neither Netanyahu’s or Bennett’s personal background compare to Saul’s or David’s, their political rivalry and Bennett’s rise in popularity are eerily similar. Naftali Bennett was born in Haifa. Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu is not an observant Jew, which would explain why he seems to go against God’s Laws in his leadership. Bennett grew up as Modern Orthodox, which explains his willingness to keep the State of Israel’s focus as a Jewish state and not just a state of Jews.

But, personally, I don’t think Naftali Bennett is religious enough to really fulfill any Messianic role. From what I’ve read as to how he envisions to solve the Palestinian conflict, I don’t think it will work (completely). He wants to give Egypt authority over Gaza. Does that stop Hamas from making and shooting rockets into Israel? He wants to give the Palestinians living in Area C citizenship. Will giving them free rein to travel throughout Israel proper stop them from trying to kill Israelis?

So Who Do I See As Real Moshiach Material?

Ever since my first visit to Israel over 10 years ago, I had already concluded that the Messiah would have to come from the West Bank, or the ‘settlements’. These are the only people who have real passion for the Land. They risk their lives for their biblical ideals and convictions that God gave them all of this Land and they will fight for it. Although Bennett will never allow a Palestinian state, I don’t think he understands how to stop the terror attacks.

So Then Who?

I think it’s Betzalel Smotrich.

Smotrich heads the National Union Party who joined in a bloc with Yamina.

He was born in the Golan Heights and grew up in Bet El, a settlement in the West Bank. He currently lives in Kedumim, also a settlement in the West Bank. His father was an Orthodox rabbi and Bezalel attended a Religious Zionist yeshiva. He has been very outspoken about wanting to bring Torah more into state and judicial policy such as no public transportation on Shabbat and as concerning LGBT issues.

So, while Bennett is great in the Defense aspect, Smotrich is great in the religious aspect. They can work together to make things happen.

Unfortunately, I still do not think most Israelis are ready for Smotrich. And with these Abraham Accords still in flux, (of which is a whole separate topic for another post), I don’t think people are ready to totally give up on Netanyahu. We may have to wait until these next 4 years if Trump is re-elected, sooner if not. These peace agreements could influence how and when things happen.

I am not a prophet. I make no guarantee or prediction any of this will happen. This only comes from my own personal observations based on current events and the events of the Tanakh.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.