1 Samuel15
New American Standard
1Then Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; now therefore, listen to the words of the Lord.
2This is what the Lord of armies says: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, in that he obstructed him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt.
3Now go and strike Amalek and completely destroy everything that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
4Then Saul summoned the people and counted them in Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.
5And Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the wadi.
6But Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, get away, go down from among the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they went up from Egypt.” So the Kenites got away from among the Amalekites.
7Then Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah going toward Shur, which is east of Egypt.
8He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and completely destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the more valuable animals, the lambs, and everything that was good, and were unwilling to destroy them completely; but everything despicable and weak, that they completely destroyed.
10Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying,
11“I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was furious and cried out to the Lord all night.
12Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was reported to Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal.”
13So Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.”
14But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the bellowing of the oxen which I hear?”
15Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God; but the rest we have completely destroyed.”
16Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop, and let me inform you of what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!”
17So Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were insignificant in your own eyes, that you became the head of the tribes of Israel? For the Lord anointed you as king over Israel.
18And the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are eliminated.’
19Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord!”
20Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the Lord, for I went on the mission on which the Lord sent me; and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites.
21But the people took some of the spoils, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things designated for destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”
22Samuel said, “Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
23For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”
24Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have violated the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.
25Now then, please pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”
26But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
27Then Samuel turned to go, but Saul grasped the edge of his robe, and it tore off.
28So Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.
29Also the Glory of Israel will not lie nor change His mind; for He is not a man, that He would change His mind.”
30Then Saul said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before all Israel, and go back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.”
31So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
32Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is gone!”
33But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.
34Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul.
35And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, though Samuel mourned for Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 15.
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