1 Samuel 15:10-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:10-23

Saul is here called to account by Samuel concerning the execution of his commission against the Amalekites; and remarkable instances we are here furnished with of the strictness of the justice of God and the treachery and deceitfulness of the heart of man. We are here told, I. What passed between God and Samuel, in secret, upon this occasion, 1 Sam. 15:10, 11. 1. God determines Saul's rejection, and acquaints Samuel with it: It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king. Repentance in God... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:32-35

Samuel, as a prophet, is here set over kings, Jer. 1:10. I. He destroys king Agag, doubtless by such special direction from heaven as none now can pretend to. He hewed Agag in pieces. Some think he only ordered it to be done; or perhaps he did it with his own hands, as a sacrifice to God's injured justice (1 Sam. 15:33), and sacrifices used to be cut in pieces. Now observe in this, 1. How Agag's present vain hopes were frustrated: He came delicately, in a stately manner, to show that he was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:10

Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel ,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum; this came to him in a dream or vision, or by an articulate voice: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:11

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king ,.... Which is not to be understood of any change of mind, counsel, purpose, or decree in God, which is not consistent with his unchangeable nature; but of a change of dispensation, and outward dealings, and is spoken after the manner of men, who, when they repent of anything, change the course of their conduct and behaviour; and so the Lord does without any change of his mind and will, which alters not; and though he changes the outward... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:12

And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning ,.... Having had no sleep since the revelation of the will of God was made unto him, and therefore rose early, being in haste to converse with Saul about it: it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel ; not to Carmel where Elijah offered sacrifice, for that was very remote from hence; but to Carmel, a city in the tribe of Judah, which lay in the way of Saul's return from Amalek, Joshua 15:55 . and, behold, he set him up a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:13

And Samuel came to Saul ,.... At Gilgal: and Saul said unto him, blessed be thou of the Lord ; signifying that he had abundant reason to bless the Lord on his account, not only that he had anointed him king, but had sent him on such an errand, in which he had succeeded so well, and it was a pleasure to him that he might report it to him: I have performed the commandment of the Lord ; either he was really ignorant that he had done amiss; and thought that his sparing Agag, when he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:14

And Samuel said, what meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears ,.... For the orders were to destroy all living creatures belonging to the Amalekites, 1 Samuel 15:3 if therefore Saul had performed the commandment of the Lord, as he said he had, from whence were these sheep Samuel heard bleating? and the lowing of the oxen which I hear ? where do they come from? these questions he put to convict him of the falsehood he had delivered; the bleating and lowing of these creatures... read more

John Gill

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

And Saul said, they have brought them from the Amalekites ,.... That is, the people, laying the blame upon them, as Adam did on his wife, as if he had no concern at all in it, when it is clear from 1 Samuel 15:9 he was the principal one; nor is it probable the people should do this of themselves, without his consent and authority, which was so directly contrary to the express order of God; and then to excuse the people as well as he could, on whom he laid the blame, he observes this was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:16

Then Samuel said unto Saul, stay ,.... Stop a little, do not be in haste to be gone, as he might seem to be, fearing a reproof, and that something would be said to him not very agreeable; or "suffer" F3 הרף "permitte", Pagninus, Montanus; "sine me", V. L. so Abarbinel. me, that is, to speak, give me leave to say a few words; for Saul being a king, Samuel treats him as such, and asks audience of him, or leave of him to deliver what he had to say to him: and I will tell thee what... read more

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