Tezuka Osamu's Tales from the Old Testament Ep19-21

The seventh volume of Tezuka Osamu's Tales from the Old Testament is the pivot point between the mythic and "historical" parts of the Bible. (Quotes needed, because little of the history of the United Kingdom of Israel can be verified archaeologically.) The Israelites were competing for space in a crowded land and were under increasing pressure from larger political entities. They came to believe they needed more than just God's strength to protect them. Instead of decentralized tribes governed by charismatic local leaders ("judges"), they wanted a centralized kingdom and all that went with it. It worked - for a while.

This is also the point, in my view, where the series' G-rated, "greatest hits" approach to the Bible breaks down. These episodes present the highlights - Gideon's victory over Midian, Saul's selection and subsequent madness, David and Goliath - but they fail to do justice to the highly complex characters in this story. David is presented simplistically as a faithful servant of God. None of the dark notes - Absalom, Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite - are mentioned. His deep friendship with Saul's son Jonathan, so carefully delineated in the Bible, is  ignored; Jonathan's role in saving David's life is given to Saul's daughter, Michal. David succeeds Saul, conquers Jerusalem, composes songs of praise to God, dies. This is not the compelling figure who captured the imagination of western artists from Michelangelo to Leonard Cohen. But... "you don't really care for music, do ya?"

Episode 19 ("King Saul") relates a few stories from the Book of Judges, specifically Deborah leading the people to victory over the Canaanites, and Gideon leading the chosen 300 (This is Sparta!) to victory over the Midianites. The main narrative tells how the prophet Samuel selected and anointed Saul as Israel's first king. Rocco has a catalytic role in bringing Saul into contact with Samuel.

The Book of Judges is actually far more schematic than this episode indicates. It contains six "cycles." In each of them, the people lapse into idolatry and are threatened by external enemies as God's punishment. A charismatic leader arises to bring the people back to their faith and earn God's forgiveness. The leader, with God's power, defeats the enemy, and the people enjoy forty years of peace. Rinse and repeat. This theme - God punishing the Israelites for lapses of faith via external enemies - will occur again.

Episode 20 ("Saul's Defeat") recounts the downfall of Saul. The king's initial run of victories make him arrogant, and he usurps the priests' role in rituals. He loses God's favor and becomes increasingly morose. Samuel seeks out the house of Jesse and secretly anoints his youngest son, the musically-talent shepherd David, as the future king. Later, Saul's servants send for David to play for the king and soothe his troubled soul. When the Philistines, led by their giant Goliath, challenge the Israelites, David volunteers to face Goliath and brings him down with his slingshot. David becomes instantly famous and wildly popular, and he marries Saul's daughter Michal. However, David's fame excites Saul's jealousy, and the king tries to have his rival killed. David is protected by God's favor. Saul is killed fighting the Philistines, along with his son Jonathan. Rocco is the young David's pet and companion.

At the end, David sings a song of mourning for Saul and Jonathan, but it is very generic compared to David's impassioned words in the Book of Samuel:

Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.

Not likely to make it into this series. How the mighty have fallen, indeed.

 

This episode has an unusually high number of director Dezaki Osamu's trademark detailed still frames or "postcard memories":

 

 

Episode 21 ("King David") starts with David's conquest of the Jebusite fortress of Jerusalem, located on Mount Zion. He calls Jerusalem "the city of David" and begins a massive reconstruction project to make it a beautiful center for his kingdom. He brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and dances in joy, celebrating the Lord. He also starts to build a temple to hold the Ark of the Covenant, but the prophet Nathan, relating God's words, tells David to leave that task to his successor.

This episode illustrates one incident that shows David's humanity. He dances before the Ark of the Covenant, wearing just an ephod (a priestly apron). This causes his wife, Michal, Saul's daughter, to rebuke him for dishonoring the dignity of a king. David disagrees, saying that to praise God, he would make himself even more of a mountebank, if need be. The episode omits, of course, the aftermath: David takes wives and concubines in Jerusalem and fathers eleven more children; he shuns Michal, who remains childless.

Rocco causes his usual fox-like chaos in the marketplace during David's celebration.

These episodes introduce new characters and new voice actors:

• Yoshida Rihoko (Deborah) played Megu-chan in Majokko Megu-chan, Monsley in Future Boy Conan, Maria Grace Fleed in UFO Robo Grendizer, Michiru in Getter Robo, Clara Sesemann in Alps no Shoujo Heidi, Rosalie Lamorliere in The Rose of Versailles, Kurama in Urusei Yatsura, and Machiko in Maicchingu Machiko-sensei. She appeared in numerous other World Masterpiece Theater series, including  Anne of Green Gables, Honoo no Alpen Rose, Katry the Cow Girl, Shoukoushi Cedie, Lucy May of the Southern Rainbow, Marco: 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, Perrine, and Pollyanna. She played Holy Mother in Gude Crest, Takako in Sugata Sanshiro, and Diaochan in the first Sangokushi movie, all Orphan releases.
• Yamanouchi Masato (Samuel) appeared in Casshan, Future Boy Conan, Hell Liner-0011, Racoon Rascal, and Shounen Santa no Daibouken. 
• Yuuki Hiro (Young David) played the title role in Arc the Lad, Marcel in the Angelique franchise, and Masuo in Yume de Aetera. He also appeared in Neko Neko Fantasia, Nozomi Witches, and Yamato 2520, all Orphan releases.
• Ishizuka Unsho (David) played the title role in a Violence Jack OVA, Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop, Hongou in Rescue Wings, van Hohenheim in the original Fullmetal Alchemist, Dina in Banana Fish, and Bunta in the Initial D franchise.
• Shimaka Yuu (Goliath) played Katagiri in Yawara! He appeared in Bagi, Kosuke-sama & Rikimaru-sama: Konpeitou no Ryuu, Kasei Yakyoku, and Apfelland Monogatari, all Orphan releases.
• Hashi Takaya (Saul) appeared in Sanctuary, Oedo ga Nemurenai!, and Yuukan Club, all Orphan releases. He had featured roles in Blade Runner: Black Lotus, D.grayman, the Fafner franchise, Fire Force, and the Garo offerings.

For this set of episodes, both Moho Kareshi and Skr contributed to the translations. ninjacloud timed. I edited and transposed the typesetting. Nemesis and Uchuu QCed. Skr encoded from R2J DVDs.

You can pick up this batch of episodes from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.