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Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 15:1

1. Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee . . .: now therefore hearken thou unto . . . the Lord—Several years had been passed in successful military operations against troublesome neighbors. During these Saul had been left to act in a great measure at his own discretion as an independent prince. Now a second test is proposed of his possessing the character of a theocratic monarch in Israel; and in announcing the duty required of him, Samuel brought before him his official... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

5. Yahweh’s final rejection of Saul ch. 15"In the short pericope 1 Samuel 13:7-15 a obedience was the stone on which Saul stumbled; here it is the rock that crushes him." [Note: Ibid., p. 142.] Chapter 15 records one of the battles Saul fought with the Amalekites, Israel’s enemy to the south (cf. 1 Samuel 14:48). The Amalekites were descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:12; 1 Chronicles 1:36) and, therefore, linked with the Edomites. They were nomads who lived principally in southern Canaan and the... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

Saul’s Victory over Amalek. His Disobedience and RejectionAmalek had attacked Israel at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8) and opposed their entrance into Canaan (Numbers 14:45: cp. Deuteronomy 25:7; They are mentioned as allies of the Midianites in Judges 7:12. The Amalekite nomads probably occupied a large tract of the wilderness S. of Judah. This chapter evidently comes from a different source from the preceding, which concludes the history of Saul. It forms the connexion between the history of Saul and... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 15:1-3

(1 Samuel 15:1-3) Samuel also said unto Saul . . .—The compiler of the history, selecting, no doubt, from ancient state records, chose to illustrate the story of the reign and rejection of Saul by certain memorable incidents as good examples of the king’s general life and conduct. The incidents were also selected to show the rapid development of the power and resources of Israel at this period.The sacred war with Amalek is thus introduced without any “note of time.”The Lord sent me to anoint... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

Obedience 1 Samuel 15:10-23 Obedience is a sacrifice better, because more profound than any other sacrifice can be. 'It is much easier,' Matthew Henry remarks, 'to bring a bullock or a lamb to be burnt upon the altar than to bring every high thought into obedience to God, and make the will subject to His will.' Sacrifice is as the presents which Hiram sent to Solomon; but obedience is like the artist whom he sent to remain in Jerusalem and do the finest work of the Temple for obedience is a... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

CHAPTER XXI.THE FINAL REJECTION OF SAUL1 Samuel 15:1-35.HERE we find the second portion of God’s indictment against Saul, and the reason for his final rejection from the office to which he had been raised. There is no real ground for the assertion of some critics that in this book we have two accounts of Saul’s rejection, contradictory one of the other, because a different ground is asserted for it in the one case from that assigned in the other. The first rejection (1 Samuel 13:13-14) was the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

8. War with Amalek: Saul’s Disobedience and Rejection CHAPTER 15 1. The commission to destroy Amalek (1 Samuel 15:1-9 ) 2. Saul’s disobedience and rejection (1 Samuel 15:10-23 ) 3. Saul’s confession (1 Samuel 15:24-31 ) 4. The doom of Agag (1 Samuel 15:32-35 ) From verse 48 in the previous chapter we learn that Saul smote the Amalekites. Samuel is sent by Jehovah with a new message to Saul telling him to smite Amalek again and to destroy utterly all that they have. It involves another... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 15:1

15:1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee [to be] king over his people, over Israel: now therefore {a} hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.(a) Because he has preferred you to this honour, you are bound to obey him. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

God had a more solemn controversy with the Amalekites than with the Philistines. The mere formal worship typified by the Philistines is empty; but Amalekite "lusts of the flesh" are a deadly enemy that had afflicted Israel from the time of their leaving Egypt. Samuel reminds Saul that it was the Lord who had sent him to anoint Saul as king over Israel, and calls for his attention to the authoritative words of God. God remembered the early attack of this bitter enemy of Israel (Exodus 17:8),... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

THE MAN AFTER GOD ’S HEART ANOTHER COMMISSION FOR SAMUEL (1 Samuel 15:1-9 ) How long a time elapsed since the last chapter is indeterminable. Saul’s victory seems to have driven the Philistines out of Israel’s territory, and to have been followed by successful sallies against other enemies. He had been warned of God that because of his presumption at Gilgal (chap. 13), the kingdom would be taken from him and given to another; but God seems willing to allow him another chance, or at least... read more

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