طالوت

Core meaning

Proper noun. The text says of him that he is a king chosen for the breadth of his knowledge and his constitution. The name has the letters of ط و ل, height, stature, though the text does not make this connection. The translation writes the name alone: "Talut".

Uses

1. طَالُوت → "Talut" : the king raised up for the sons of Israel, who leads the armies to the trial of the river.

   • «إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًۭا» — "God has indeed raised up for you Talut as king" (2:247)
   • «فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِٱلْجُنُودِ» — "When Talut set out with the armies" (2:249)

Evidence from the text

The people contest this king who has not been given "ampleness of goods" (2:247); the answer is: "God has indeed chosen him over you, and increased him in breadth of knowledge and constitution" (2:247). His greatness is of knowledge as much as of body.

The account puts it to work at once: as the armies set out, he separates by the trial of the river those who are his own from those who are not (2:249).

See also

طول (height, duration) · جالوت (Jalut)