1 Samuel 15:24 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:24-31

Saul is at length brought to put himself into the dress of the penitent; but it is too evident that he only acts the part of a penitent, and is not one indeed. Observe, I. How poorly he expressed his repentance. It was with much ado that he was made sensible of his fault, and not till he was threatened with being deposed. This touched him in a tender part. Then he began to relent, and not till then. When Samuel told him he was rejected from being king, then he said, I have sinned, 1 Sam.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:24

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned ,.... This confession of his sin does not appear to be ingenuous, cordial, and sincere, and was made chiefly for the sake of getting the sentence of rejecting him from being king reversed: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words ; which last seems to be added to collogue with Samuel, and to ingratiate himself with him; and Abarbinel thinks that Saul suspected that Samuel had aggravated the matter of himself, and that he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:24

I have sinned - because I feared the people - This was the best excuse he could make for himself; but had he feared God more, he need have feared the People less. 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

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 15:24-25

1 Samuel 15:24-25. I have sinned It does by no means appear that Saul acts the hypocrite herein, in assigning a false cause of his disobedience. Rather, he nakedly declares the thing as it was. Pardon my sin Neither can it be proved that there was any hypocrisy in this. Rather, charity requires us to believe, that he sincerely desired pardon, both from God and man, as he now knew he had sinned against both. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

War against the Amalekites (15:1-35)The Amalekites came under the same curse as those Canaanite nations that were to be destroyed (15:1-3; cf. Exodus 17:8-16; Deuteronomy 20:16-18; Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Again Saul’s obedience was tested, and again he failed. His kingly power gave him no right to alter God-given instructions to suit himself (4-9).God sent Samuel to tell Saul of the consequences of his disobedience (10-16; cf. 13:13-14). Religious sacrifices and military victories were no... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 15:24

transgressed . Hebrew. `abar. App-44 . commandment . Hebrew "mouth", put by Fig, Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is spoken by it. words . Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "word". read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:24

SAUL CHANGES HIS TUNE; BUT IN VAIN"And Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandments of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore I pray, pardon my sin, and return with me that I may worship the Lord." And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel." As Samuel turned to go away, Saul laid hold on the skirt... read more