1 Samuel15
New Living Translation
1One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord!
2This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt.
3Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”
4So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah.
5Then Saul and his army went to a town of the Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley.
6Saul sent this warning to the Kenites: “Move away from where the Amalekites live, or you will die with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites packed up and left.
7Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt.
8He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else.
9Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.
10Then the Lord said to Samuel,
11“I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night.
12Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”
13When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!”
14“Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.
15“It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else.”
16Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the Lord told me last night!” “What did he tell you?” Saul asked.
17And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel.
18And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’
19Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”
20“But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.
21Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
22But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
23Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
24Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.
25But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.”
26But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”
27As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe.
28And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.
29And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”
30Then Saul pleaded again, “I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the Lord your God.”
31So Samuel finally agreed and went back with him, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
32Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag to me.” Agag arrived full of hope, for he thought, “Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!”
33But Samuel said, “As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.
34Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah of Saul.
35Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of 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