1 Samuel15
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 And to , The Lord me to you his ; therefore to the of the Lord.
2 the Lord of , I have to in them on the when they out of .
3 and and they have. Do , but , , , .
4 So the and them in , men on , and of .
5 And the of and lay in in the .
6 Then to the , , ; from the , I you them. For you the of when they out of . So the from the .
7 And the as , is of .
8 And he the of the and the with the of the .
9 But and the and the of the and of the and of the and the , and that was , them. that was and they .
10 The of the Lord to :
11 I I have , he has me and has my . And was , and he to the Lord .
12 And to in the . And it was , to , and , he a for himself and and and to .
13 And to , and to him, be you to the Lord. I have the of the Lord.
14 And , then is this of the in my and the of the I ?
15 , They have them the , for the the of the and of the to to the Lord your , and the we have .
16 Then to , ! I will you the Lord to me this . And he to him, .
17 And , you are in your own , are you the of the of ? The Lord you .
18 And the Lord you on a and , , the , the , and against them they are .
19 then did you the of the Lord? Why did you on the and what was in the of the Lord?
20 And to , I have the of the Lord. I have on the on the Lord me. I have the of , and I have the to .
21 But the of the , and , the of the things , to to the Lord your in .
22 And , Has the Lord as in and , as in the of the Lord? , to is , and to the of .
23 is as the of , and is as and . you have the of the Lord, he has also you from being .
24 to , I have , I have the of the Lord and your , I the and their .
25 therefore, my and with me that I may the Lord.
26 And to , I will you. you have the of the Lord, and the Lord has you from being .
27 As to go , the of his , and it .
28 And to him, The Lord has the of you this and has it to a of yours, who is you.
29 And the of will or have , he is a , that he should have .
30 Then he , I have ; yet me the of my and , and me, that I may before the Lord your .
31 So , and before the Lord.
32 Then , Bring to me the of the . And to him . , the of is .
33 And , your has made , shall your be among . And to the Lord in .
34 Then to , and to his in of .
35 And did the of his , over . And the Lord he had .
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1 Samuel 15Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 15. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-9
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.
vv10-23
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.
vv24-31
There were several signs of hypocrisy in Saul's repentance. 1. He besought Samuel only, and seemed most anxious to stand right in his opinion, and to gain his favour. 2. He excuses his fault, even when confessing it; that is never the way of a true penitent. 3. 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.
Key Words
שְׁמוּאֵל: Shemuel, the name of three Israelites
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
שָׁאוּל: Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
מָשַׁח: to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint
מֶלֶךְ: a king
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עַתָּה: at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
Cross References
1 Samuel 15The original battle and divine curse against Amalek that Saul was ordered to execute.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The explicit Mosaic command to blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The classic prophetic echo that God desires obedience and mercy over physical sacrifice.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The repetition of Saul's rejection and the promise of a better neighbor (David).
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel statement of God's unchangeable character: He is not a man, that He should lie or repent.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical background on the Kenites' relationship with Israel, sparing them from Amalek's fate.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Balaam's prophecy that Israel's king shall be higher than Agag, the royal Amalekite title.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The exact parallel of Ahab sparing a doomed king (Ben-hadad) and receiving a death sentence.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Another example of a self-glorifying monument ('a place/hand') set up by Absalom.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Saul's own words of being 'little' when Samuel first met him, contrasting his later pride.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Asks what God requires, emphasizing justice and walking humbly over thousands of rams.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates Saul's confession that he sinned because he feared the people and obeyed them.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The military strategy of laying in wait in the valley, echoing Joshua at Ai.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Pharaoh's superficial confession 'I have sinned' matching the hollow nature of Saul's repentance.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Ahijah renting his garment as a physical sign of tearing away the kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Poole