1 Samuel Chapter 15
1 Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the voice of the LORD's words.
2 The LORD of Armies says, 'I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way, when he came up out of Egypt.
3 Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don't spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' "
4 Saul summoned the people, and counted them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
5 Saul came to the city of Amalek, and set an ambush in the valley.
6 Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, go down from amongst the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from amongst the Amalekites.
7 Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, that is before Egypt.
8 He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, and of the fat calves, and the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10 Then the LORD's word came to Samuel, saying,
11 "It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments." Samuel was angry; and he cried to the LORD all night.
12 Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and Samuel was told, saying, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal."
13 Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, "You are blessed by the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD."
14 Samuel said, "Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?"
15 Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the cattle, to sacrifice to the LORD your God. We have utterly destroyed the rest."
16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stay, and I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." He said to him, "Say on."
17 Samuel said, "Though you were little in your own sight, weren't you made the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel;
18 and the LORD sent you on a journey, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'
19 Why then didn't you obey the LORD's voice, but took the plunder, and did that which was evil in the LORD's sight?"
20 Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the LORD's voice, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and cattle, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."
22 Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the LORD's voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the LORD's word, he has also rejected you from being king."
24 Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD."
26 Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the LORD's word, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."
27 As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore.
28 Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbour of yours who is better than you.
29 Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent."
30 Then he said, "I have sinned; yet please honour me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God."
31 So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
32 Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me!" Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."
33 Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless amongst women!" Then Samuel cut Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
35 Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Footnotes
- Verse 23 (Teraphim)
- teraphim were household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property.
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1 Samuel Chapter 15 Guide
Saul was commissioned by Jehovah through Samuel to smite Amalek, and it was in connection with this that the sin occurred which filled his cup to the brim and caused him to be rejected.
His campaign was victorious over the whole section of the country, but again he was disobedient, sparing Agag and a part of the spoil.
Samuel's anger at this wrong is a clear revelation of his loyalty to Jehovah. Strong in his consciousness of the supremacy of God over the appointed king, and in his sense of the folly of the king's sin, Samuel went forth to meet the king. When Samuel charged Saul with sin Saul prevaricated, meeting the prophet with what was virtually a lie on his lips, "I have performed the commandment of Jehovah." Then in solemn and sublime words Samuel pronounced him as rejected for the kingship.
There is a striking contrast between Samuel and Saul as they are seen here side by side. Saul, the man of great opportunity, miserably failing and passing through disobedience to ruin. Samuel, rejected long ago of the people, still mighty in his allegiance to God, burning in anger, denouncing in force, and, finally, in a white heat of loyalty, himself hewing Agag to pieces.
This was the last interview between the king and the prophet prior to the latter's death. Very touching is the statement, "Samuel mourned for Saul." Evidently the old man had loved the young man, and had hoped great things from him. When Saul failed, Samuel denounced him without sparing, and then in loneliness mourned over him.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
1 Samuel Chapter 15 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Saul sent to destroy Amalek. -- (1-9)
- Saul excuses and commends himself. -- (10-23)
- Saul's imperfect humiliation. -- (24-31)
- Agag put to death, Samuel and Saul part. -- (32-35)
Verses 1-9
The sentence of condemnation against the Amalekites had gone forth long before, Ex 17:14; De 25:19, but they had been spared till they filled up the measure of their sins. We are sure that the righteous Lord does no injustice to any. The remembering the kindness of the ancestors of the Kenites, in favour to them, at the time God was punishing the injuries done by the ancestors of the Amalekites, tended to clear the righteousness of God in this dispensation. It is dangerous to be found in the company of God's enemies, and it is our duty and interest to come out from among them, lest we share in their sins and plagues, Re 18:4. As the commandment had been express, and a test of Saul's obedience, his conduct evidently was the effect of a proud, rebellious spirit. He destroyed only the refuse, that was good for little. That which was now destroyed was sacrificed to the justice of God.
Verses 10-23
Repentance in God is not a change of mind, as it is in us, but a change of method. The change was in Saul; "He is turned back from following me." Hereby he made God his enemy. Samuel spent a whole night in pleading for Saul. The rejection of sinners is the grief of believers: God delights not in their death, nor should we. Saul boasts to Samuel of his obedience. Thus sinners think, by justifying themselves, to escape being judged of the Lord. The noise the cattle made, like the rust of the silver, Jas 5:3, witnessed against him. Many boast of obedience to the command of God; but what means then their indulgence of the flesh, their love of the world, their angry and unkind spirit, and their neglect of holy duties, which witness against them? See of what evil covetousness is the root; and see what is the sinfulness of sin, and notice that in it which above any thing else makes it evil in the sight of the Lord; it is disobedience: "Thou didst not obey the voice of the Lord." Carnal, deceitful hearts, like Saul, think to excuse themselves from God's commandments by what pleases themselves. It is hard to convince the children of disobedience. But humble, sincere, and conscientious obedience to the will of God, is more pleasing and acceptable to him than all burnt-offering and sacrifices. God is more glorified and self more denied, by obedience than by sacrifice. It is much easier to bring a bullock or lamb to be burned upon the altar, than to bring every high thought into obedience to God, and to make our will subject to his will. Those are unfit and unworthy to rule over men, who are not willing that God should rule over them.
Verses 24-31
There were several signs of hypocrisy in Saul's repentance.
- He besought Samuel only, and seemed most anxious to stand right in his opinion, and to gain his favour.
- He excuses his fault, even when confessing it; that is never the way of a true penitent.
- All his care was to save his credit, and preserve his interest in the people. Men are fickle and alter their minds, feeble and cannot effect their purposes; something happens they could not foresee, by which their measures are broken; but with God it is not so. The Strength of Israel will not lie.
Verses 32-35
Many think the bitterness of death is past when it is not gone by; they put that evil day far from them, which is very near. Samuel calls Agag to account for his own sins. He followed the example of his ancestors' cruelty, justly therefore is all the righteous blood shed by Amalek required. Saul seems unconcerned at the token of God's displeasure which he lay under, yet Samuel mourns day and night for him. Jerusalem was carnally secure while Christ wept over it. Do we desire to do the whole will of God? Turn to him, not in form and appearance, but with sincerity.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.