1 Samuel 15:24-30

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:25

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin ,.... It can hardly be thought that Saul was so ignorant as to imagine that Samuel could pardon his sin, as committed against God, which none but God can do, but that he would forgive it, so far as he had offended him; or rather his meaning is, that as he was a prophet of the Lord, and had great interest in him, that he would make use of it on his behalf, and pray to God that his sin might be forgiven him, and the sentence reversed concerning his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:26

And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee ,.... Not being satisfied with his repentance and confession, he still extenuating his sin, and laying the blame of it on the people. This he said by way of resentment, and as expressing his indignation at him, though he afterwards did return with him on a change of his mind; which a good man may be allowed to make, without any imputation of falsehood or a lie unto him: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:27

And as Samuel turned about to go away ,.... From Saul, a different way from Gilgal, perhaps towards his own city Ramah, with an intention to have nothing more to say to Saul, or to do with him, or to see his face no more; so displeased was he with him: he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle ; in order to detain him, and prevent his departure from him, and his going a different way: and it rent ; Samuel twitching away from him with great vehemence and warmth. The Jewish F6 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:28

And Samuel said unto him, the Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day ,.... Seeing his mantle rent by Saul, he took occasion from thence to predict, and no doubt it was impressed on his mind by the Spirit of God, that his kingdom should be in a like manner rent from him, on account of his own evil conduct and behaviour; and from this day forward he might expect it; the sentence was gone forth from God, and it would not be reversed; and by a like sign was signified the rending... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:29

And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent ,.... Neither of the evil which he had threatened to Saul in taking away the kingdom from him; nor of the good which he had promised to David in giving it to him; nor of his purpose and promise to Israel to protect and defend them, save and deliver them from the Philistines, and continue them a nation and kingdom: and for the confirmation of all this, this title or character of the Lord is given, "the Strength of Israel"; hence he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:30

Then he said, I have sinned ,.... So he had said before, 1 Samuel 15:24 but his confession there was attended with an extenuation of his sin, pleading in excuse of it that it was through fear of the people, but here it is without any; and yet by what follows it appears to be not ingenuous and sincere, but hypocritical: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel ; with his company; since should he be slighted openly by the Lord, and by his prophet,... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:25

Pardon my sin - Literally, bear my sin; take it away; forgive what I have done against thee, and be my intercessor with God, that he may forgive my offense against him; turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. read more

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