1 Samuel 15:24-30

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:26

I will not return with thee - I cannot acknowledge thee as king, seeing the Lord hath rejected thee. read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:29

The Strength of Israel will not lie - What God has purposed he will bring to pass, for he has all power in the heavens and in the earth; and he will not repent - change his purpose - concerning thee. We may say it was some extenuation of Saul's fault that the people insisted on preserving the best of the prey; for who could resist the demands of a victorious mob? But his crime was in consenting; had he not, the crime would have been theirs alone. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:24

The words of Samuel struck Saul with terror. The same authority which had first given him the kingdom now withdraws it from him, and pronounces his offence as equal in God's sight to crimes which Saul himself held in great abhorrence. He humbles himself, therefore, before Samuel, acknowledges his sin, and frankly confesses that the cause of it had been his unwillingness to act in a manner contrary to the wishes of the people; and we must fairly conclude that the sparing of the spoil had been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:24-31

Conviction of sin not repentance. The facts are— 1 . Saul, alleging fear of the people, admits his sin, and seeks Samuel's presence while he worships the Lord. 2 . On Samuel refusing and turning away, Saul seizes and rends his garment, which circumstance is used as a sign that so the Lord had rent the kingdom from Saul and given it to another. 3 . On being assured that God's purpose was irrevocable. Saul entreats, for the sake of his credit among the people that Samuel would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:26-28

At first the prophet refuses the king's request. Saul had dishonoured God, and, therefore, had no claim to public homage from God's minister. He turns, therefore, to go away, and Saul in his eagerness seizes hold of Samuel's mantle . The A.V. is very careless about the exact rendering of words of this description, and seems guided in its choice of terms simply by the ear. Now the mantle, addereth, though used of the Shinar shawl stolen by Achan ( Joshua 7:21 , Joshua 7:24 ), was the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:29

The Strength —better, as in the margin, the Victory or Triumph— of Israel. He who is Israel's Victory, or He in whom Israel has victory, will not repent. In 1 Samuel 15:11 God was said to repent, because there was what appeared to be a change in the Divine counsels. "God gave Israel a king in his anger, and took him away in his wrath" ( Hosea 13:11 ). But such modes of speaking are in condescension to human weakness. Absolutely with God there is no change. He is the Eternal Present,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:30-31

Then he said, I have sinned. We have here no real confession of guilt. Even in 1 Samuel 15:24 the words were rather an expression of vexation at the strictness with which he was held to the letter of the command, than an acknowledgment that he really had done wrong. Here Saul's meaning seems to be, Well, granting that I have sinned, and that this sentence of exclusion kern the kingdom is passed upon me, yet at least pay me the honor due to the rank which I still continue to hold. And to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 15:24

I have sinned - Compare 1 Samuel 15:25, 1 Samuel 15:30. How was it that these repeated confessions were unavailing to obtain forgiveness, when David’s was? (See the marginal reference.) Because Saul only shrank from the punishment of his sin. David shrank in abhorrence from the sin itself Psalms 51:4. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 15:29

The strength of Israel - A phrase which occurs only here. The word means, perpetuity, truth, glory, victory, and trust, or confidence. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 15:30

The pertinacity with which Saul clings to Samuel for support is a striking testimony to Samuel’s integrity. With all his worldly-mindedness Saul could perceive and appreciate the purity of Samuel’s character as a man of God.The Lord thy God - As above, 1 Samuel 15:15. read more

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