1 Samuel 15:1-4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1-9

Here, I. Samuel, in God's name, solemnly requires Saul to be obedient to the command of God, and plainly intimates that he was now about to put him upon a trial, in one particular instance, whether he would be obedient or no, 1 Sam. 15:1. And the making of this so expressly the trial of his obedience did very much aggravate his disobedience. 1. He reminds him of what God had done for him: ?The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be a king. God gave thee thy power, and therefore he expects thou... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1

Samuel also said unto Saul ,.... When and where he said to him what follows, it is not easy to determine, perhaps at Gilgal, where they after met again: the Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel ; that is, he gave him orders to anoint him king of Israel, otherwise Saul was in providence sent to Samuel to be anointed, and not Samuel to Saul: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord ; for so great a favour, and such high honour he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:2

Thus saith the Lord of hosts ,.... Of the celestial host of angels, and of the army of Israel, yea, of all the armies of the earth: this is premised to engage the attention of Saul: I remember that which Amalek did to Israel ; four hundred years ago: how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt ; in the valley of Rephidim, just before they came to Mount Sinai, and fell upon the rear of them, and smote the feeble, and faint, and weary, see Exodus 17:8 read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:3

Now go and smite Amalek ,.... This was one of the three things the Israelites were obliged to do when they came into the land of Canaan, as Kimchi observes; one was, to appoint a king over them, another, to build the house of the sanctuary, and the third, to blot out the name and memory of Amalek, see Deuteronomy 25:19 and this work was reserved for Saul, their first king: and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not ; all were to be devoted to destruction, and nothing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:4

And Saul gathered the people together ,.... Or "made them to hear" F18 וישמע "audire fecit", Vatablus, Drusius. , by the sound of a trumpet; or by sending heralds into all parts of the land to proclaim the above order of the Lord, and summon them to come to him, perhaps at Gilgal; so the Septuagint version, and Josephus F19 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 7. sect. 2. : and numbered them in Telaim ; thought to be the same with Telem, a place in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:24 , the word... read more

Adam Clarke

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

The Lord sent me to anoint thee - This gave him a right to say what immediately follows. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:2

I remember that which Amalek did - The Amalekites were a people of Arabia Petraea, who had occupied a tract of country on the frontiers of Egypt and Palestine. They had acted with great cruelty towards the Israelites on their coming out of Egypt. (See Exodus 17:8 ; (note), and the notes there). They came upon them when they were faint and weary, and smote the hindermost of the people - those who were too weak to keep up with the rest. (See Deuteronomy 25:18 ;). And God then... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:3

Slay both man and woman - Nothing could justify such an exterminating decree but the absolute authority of God. This was given: all the reasons of it we do not know; but this we know well, The Judge of all the earth doth right. This war was not for plunder, for God commanded that all the property as well as all the people should be destroyed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:4

Two hundred thousand - and ten thousand - The Septuagint, in the London Polyglot, have Four Hundred thousand companies of Israel, and Thirty thousand companies of Judah. The Codex Alexandrinus has Ten thousand of each. The Complutensian Polyglot has Two Hundred thousand companies of Israel, and Ten thousand of Judah. And Josephus has Four Hundred thousand of Israel, and Thirty thousand of Judah. All the other versions are the same with the Hebrew text; and there is no difference in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1

FINAL REJECTION OF SAUL ( 1 Samuel 15:1-35 .) EXPOSITION DIVINE COMMAND TO PUNISH THE AMALEKITES , AND ITS EXECUTION BY SAUL ( 1 Samuel 15:1-9 ). Samuel also said. Better literally, "And Samuel said." There is no note of time, but probably a considerable interval elapsed before this second trial of Saul was made. God does not finally reject a man until, after repeated opportunities for repentance, he finally proves obdurate. David committed worse... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:4

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1

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