For my Bible scholars, I would like to engage you with a discussion on who had PTSD in the Bible.

2014-07-10T19:00:01-04:00

Saul and David as traumatized warrior kings.
Saul committed atrocities, flew into violent rages,
turned against David and other friends, murdered
priests and holy women. We are told, “The spirit
of God left him, and an evil spirit sent by the Lord
tormented him.” (Samuel 16:14). Traditional cultures
have always known of this wound. They
understood that the wound was also spiritual,
moral and holistic in its essence. For example, the
Sioux people called the wound “the spirits leave
him.” The Xhosa of South Africa call it kanene,
which is, according to paratroop veteran Roger
Brooke, a Duquesne University professor of psychology,
“the warrior’s insight into the depth and
burden that follows him — like your shadow that
always follows you and reminds you of what you
have done.”

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Jul 10 at 2014 7:03 PM

2014-07-10T19:03:58-04:00

ST. FRANCIS THE VETERANLike most youths, he wanted to experience the great adventures of his times. He lived a flamboyant adolescent life and feuded with his parents and their wishes. Turning 20, he became a soldier, went to war, then spent a terrible year as a prisoner.Ransomed and home, like so many returnees he continued his wild and restless lifestyle but without fulfillment. Not fitting back into society, he again did as so many others — he re-enlisted. During this second combat tour, he had a spiritual breakdown and vision that sent him home. The veteran rejected his old worldly ways. He donned pauper’s robes and became a penitent. He devoted himself to aiding the poor, disadvantaged, diseased and most needy and to rebuilding abandoned holy sites. He confronted authority figures to live up to their professed ideals and composed prayers praising Creation. Wearing rags, confronting authority, refusing to
conform, rejecting the worldly, serving the neediest —
St. Francis of Assisi sounds like so many disenfranchised veterans of any age. Did St. Francis have what today would be labeled PTSD? Can we understand the holistic and sacred nature of war wounding such that, through our health care and ministry, we might guide its sufferers to vision and service such as is modeled by the soldier who became a saint? — Edward Tick

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jul 10 at 2014 8:04 PM

2014-07-10T20:04:29-04:00

Ma'am, thank you for sharing this. It's simply AMAZING how a story you think you know so well can change completely just by changing the perspective.

Response by SGT Mitch McKinley made Jul 11 at 2014 1:13 PM

2014-07-11T13:13:13-04:00

Just to clarify ma'am...you aren't saying that current warriors deal with PTSD because the spirit of God left them...right?

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Jul 11 at 2014 2:22 PM

2014-07-11T14:22:18-04:00

Jonah, I'd have some issues after being swallowed by a large fish/whale. PTSD is not locked down to just combat personnel.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 2:27 PM

2014-07-11T14:27:11-04:00

CH (CPT) Heather Davis _ I will be taking Anger Management Programs at the end of this month as a prophylactic attempt to help with anxiety and stress-related issues. As well, I know Christ has my back and that is where my ultimate power resides.

Response by CPT Richard Riley made Jul 11 at 2014 2:45 PM

2014-07-11T14:45:13-04:00

CH (CPT) Heather Davis You continue to amaze me with your ability to engage those of us in dialog & thought. In some form or fashion, PTSD has been around for all of time.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jul 11 at 2014 3:02 PM

2014-07-11T15:02:38-04:00

CH (CPT) Heather Davis I think the biggest difference is how Saul and David dealt with the trauma. King Saul had roots of bitterness and anger take hold in his heart, I think in itself, that is a tormenting spirit. King David clung to God and found help and relief in the Lord.

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Jul 11 at 2014 9:42 PM

2014-07-11T21:42:09-04:00

One of the most important archaeological finds of modern times was at Ras Shamra on the North Syrian coast (the site of ancient Ugarit). Thousands of tablets were recovered, and among the Canaanite psalms recovered was the expression that had been translated at 2 Samuel 1:21 as “fields of offerings”.
By a slight revision of the text, “fields of offerings” became “upsurgings of the deep” and all was clear. David was saying let nature itself mourn over the death of the mighty Saul. There would be no dew or rain on the mountain where he died. Not even moisture from the hidden springs of the earth, no “upsurgings of the deep”. The Bible was again right after all.
Expressions and Titles Authenticate Scripture
Another criticism leveled against David was that he didn’t write the Psalms. Up until only a generation ago, it was claimed that they were written in the times of the Maccabees, some 800 years later. Now it is recognized that the Psalms of David do indeed date to his time. Expressions used by David have been found in the Caanite writings from Ras Shamra. These expressions had gone out of use by the times of the Maccabees, but were very much in use during David’s day. The discoveries at Ras Shamra have caused scholars to reassess the date of David’s Psalms and to recognize their genuineness.
BSP 1:2 (Spring 1972) p. 53
Archaeology has also given us evidence that 2 Samuel comes from the time of David. Archaeology often throws light on words used, seemingly casually, in Scripture. In 2 Samuel 8:16 the Bible records the title given to one of David’s officers - “Jehoshaphat the Recorder”. The Hebrew word for recorder is mazkir. Its root meaning gives the idea of a man who calls or knows someone, or reminds about something, or reports an event. The exact equivalent of this word has been found in Egypt. There it is used in reference to an Egyptian official who is described as “the one who repeats, calls, announces”. In other words, he was the Pharaoh’s herald. He took charge of the palace ceremonies, and acted as a liaison officer between the king and other officials or the people. He was a sort of public relations officer and as such was the king’s official spokesman.

. Vol. 1: Bible and Spade (1972) Volume 1. 1972 (2) (52–53). Ephrata, PA: Associates for Biblical Research.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2014 11:41 AM

2014-07-12T11:41:15-04:00

From what I can tell, most everyone in the bible has a reason to have PTS if you compare it to today's standards. Moses must've had some bad dreams after ordering the slaughter of most of the Jewish people when he came down from the mountain.

Response by SPC Rebecca Lovie made Jul 13 at 2014 4:24 PM

2014-07-13T16:24:38-04:00

Yes!! Humans have been dealing with PTSD forever. Suffering is not because the Spirit of God has left you but we suffer because we are not persistently searching and growing our wisdom of and through Him. The more we educate ourselves on His Word and Believe His teachings the easier it can be to handle life situations/struggles. By giving yourself wholeheartedly to His Plan we can rid ourselves of the shame, worry, stress, and sadness. Through Him we can live a life filled with Joy no matter what the circumstances!!

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2014 9:36 PM

2014-08-06T21:36:28-04:00

PTSD has had a lot of names over the years:

From "Irritable Heart" to "Shellshock": How Post-Traumatic Stress Became a Disease

When people have suffered a violent or horrifying experience, the trauma can follow them around for years — and we call that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). From soldiers to accident victims to rape survivors, tons of people have found themselves haunted by their terrible experiences.

Response by SSG(P) Auston Terry made Sep 4 at 2014 12:12 AM

2014-09-04T00:12:50-04:00

In Bereshit Noah is described before the flood as "without fault" after his experience during the flood he plants a vineyard, gets drunk, and is never heard from again. In some rabbinic interpretations that is because Noah's time on the Ark drove him into alchoholism.

I'd also argue that Yael suffered from PTSD, she nailed a tent peg through Sisera's head. That's about as up close and brutal as it gets. I also subscribe to the belief that the Song of Devorah in Judges 5 eludes to Yael's rape and that Judges 4 is a dueteronomical redaction.

There are plenty of others, basically anyone who made it into the bible by name as a protagonist.

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Nov 27 at 2014 4:55 PM

2014-11-27T16:55:36-05:00

I had never thought about Saul having PTSD. That is a very interesting concept. It would explain a great deal about his attempts to kill David.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2014 10:54 AM

2014-12-01T10:54:11-05:00

One of my favorite Biblical figures is Samson, discussed in the book of Judges in the Old testament. I would absolutely consider him to have suffered from PTSD, having personally killed thousands of men, often with his bare hands and ending his days as a prisoner of war.

Response by LTJG Daniel Bouysou made Jan 16 at 2015 5:43 AM

2015-01-16T05:43:00-05:00

I am a former Licensed Professional Counselor and follower of Jesus Christ since 1955. I have always practiced holistic counseling based on the work of Paul Tournier, A Swiss MD and Christian in the 20th century. PTSD is a mental illness. A right relationship with one's Creator is always an issue. Do not be to quick to see a spiritual component in a mental illness. If I as a born-again Christian and was in a war zone I could probably be effected by that experience to the point of suffering from PTSD. Of course my faith would not play a part in causing or preventing my mental illness and my PTSD would not be caused my the Spirit of God leaving me. Just the opposite, it would be part of the treatment. My faith does not protect me from the flu as well.

Response by SSgt James Stanley made May 5 at 2015 11:17 PM

2015-05-05T23:17:02-04:00

It wasn't so much PTSD that bothered Saul, but that evil spirit that tormented him. He also had David who played the harp for him to sooth his spirit. Then Saul threw the spear at him and David had to flee. I think David must have wound up with PTSD due to Saul pursuing him everywhere he went trying to kill him.
Think of Moses and all his dealings with Pharaoh and then leading three million plus Jews from Egypt to the land God promised them with the Jews grumbling all the way. And what was worse, they rebelled and God made them wander in the wilderness for forty years. Moses had to wind up with PTSD!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 11 at 2015 4:05 AM

2015-09-11T04:05:49-04:00

I thought it was interesting the "Cleansing" process and time involved for warrior returning after spilling blood before they were considered "Clean" again. There may be something to that.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 3:20 PM

2015-09-25T15:20:57-04:00

CH (CPT) Heather Davis,
Yes, I agree, that King David most likely suffered from PTSD, never thought of some of his actions/reactions in that light before.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Nov 6 at 2015 2:31 PM

2015-11-06T14:31:00-05:00

Elijah, but God wasn't finished with him.

Response by SPC Nathan Freeman made Apr 6 at 2016 9:36 AM

2016-04-06T09:36:34-04:00

This may be why Numbers 31:19 commands anyone who shed blood in war to remain outside the camp for seven days. It gave them time to calm down from hyper vigilance and pray for personal peace.