1 Samuel
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
1 Samuel 15
1 Samuel 15
1And Samuel said unto Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of Jehovah.
2Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt.
3Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
1Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
2Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Commentary · verses 1-3
4And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
5And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
6And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
4And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
5And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
6And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
Commentary · verses 4-6
Saul spared the Kenites because of how they treated Israel when they came out of Egypt.
7And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt.
8And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
7And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
8And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Commentary · verses 7-9
Saul did not obey the words of God through Samuel. Saul and the people smote the Amalekites but they kept Agag the king and all of the best spoil. In the Book of Esther, Haman (the adversary of the Jews) was a descendant of Agag.
10Then came the word of Jehovah unto Samuel, saying, 11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was wroth; and he cried unto Jehovah all night.
10Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
Commentary · verses 10-11
God told Samuel that it repenteth Him that He set Saul as king. Samuel cried to the Lord all night.
12And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a monument, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal.
13And Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of Jehovah: I have performed the commandment of Jehovah.
12And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
13And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
Commentary · verses 12-13
Did Saul really believe that he accomplished God's command? Was he lying or was his heart hardened?
14And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
15And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
14And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
15And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Commentary · verses 14-15
Samuel heard the sheep and oxen that Saul kept. Saul responded by blaming the people for bringing the sheep and oxen. Saul was not acting like a leader. He was facilitating his own purpose and progress at the expense of the people. Were Samuel's questions, like Moses' interactions with Pharaoh, hardening Saul's heart?
16Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what Jehovah hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17And Samuel said, Though thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel;
16Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
Commentary · verses 16-17
Samuel reminded Saul that he was humble when he was anointed king.
18and Jehovah sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah?
18And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
Commentary · verses 18-19
Samuel confronted Saul: Why did you disobey God?
20And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah, and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.
20And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
Commentary · verses 20-21
Again, Saul blamed the people for keeping the spoil and rationalized keeping Agag alive. This was Saul's second chance at the same question. Saul became more entrenched in his explanation. His heart was hardening.
22And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Commentary · verse 22
"To obey is better than sacrifice."
- Obeying God was a right HOW, in an action.
- Sacrificing, as seen in this case, may not have been for a right WHY or HOW. "Sacrifice" meant "to kill flesh."
Samuel stated it was better to do what God was telling you to do, than to focus on trying not to do what you wanted to do. It was a work to try and stop doing something by not doing it. In Romans 7:13, Paul stated focusing on what not to do only caused us to want to do it.
23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Commentary · verse 23
The KJV stated that "stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry."
- "Stubbornness" was "the unwillingness to see another perspective." The root of this was pride (unwilling to consider you are wrong). Stubbornness was not only not a good quality, it was equated with idolatry.
- "Witchcraft" was "attempting to state a will over something that has a will." Samuel stated to Saul that Saul's statement of his own will and intentionally doing the thing he was not supposed to do was rebellion, witchcraft, stubbornness, and idolatry.
Saul ought to have obeyed God and done what God told him to do. Was there any doubt that Saul's heart was hardened? How was Saul different from Pharaoh?
24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah.
24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
Commentary · verses 24-25
Pharaoh also confessed his sin and asked Moses to pray to God for him. Pharaoh's first confession occurred in Exodus 9:27 after the Plague of Hail.
26And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
27And as Samuel turned about to go away, Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent.
28And Samuel said unto him, Jehovah hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.
29And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.
26And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
27And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
28And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
29And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
Commentary · verses 26-29
Saul continued to be rebellious after judgment was pronounced. Saul still tried to exert his will over Samuel's will and God's Will. Samuel told Saul that God had torn the kingdom from him and given it to someone better than him. Notice, this statement was in response to Saul's rebellion after judgment was pronounced.
30Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah thy God.
30Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
Commentary · verse 30
Saul's focus was the people. Saul asked Samuel to affirm him in front of the people.
31So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped Jehovah.
31So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
Commentary · verse 31
Saul worshipped God.
32Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him cheerfully. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
33And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.
32Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
33And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
Commentary · verses 32-33
Samuel killed Agag.
34Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
35And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Jehovah repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
34Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
35And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Commentary · verses 34-35
Samuel did not see Saul again until his death.
Commentary · verse 35
1 Samuel 13-15 covered Saul's rebellion against God and Samuel's last encounter with Saul.
Doctrines on this passage
Samuel sent Saul to destroy the Amalekites (man, woman, child, beast, etc.). Nothing was to be spared. This was the same as Deuteronomy 25:17 which documented God reminding Israel what the Amalekites did to them when they came out of Egypt and that God wanted them wiped out completely.