1 Samuel 15:15-25 NIV

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:17

And Samuel said, when thou wast little in thine own sight ,.... Humble and lowly, and had a mean opinion of himself, his family and tribe, and judged himself unworthy of the kingdom; see 1 Samuel 9:21 suggesting, that now he was proud and haughty, and would have his own will and way: wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel ; not of his own tribe only, which was the least, but of all the tribes, and so they were all subject to him, and at his command: and the Lord... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:18

And the Lord sent thee on a journey ,.... And therefore he ought to have attended to the errand sent upon, and executed the orders given; in vain, therefore, was it to lay the blame on the people: and said, go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites ; those notorious sinners, who deserve no mercy at the hands of God or men; who had so highly offended the Lord, and had been so injurious to his people at their first coming out of Egypt. The orders were plain, not to be mistaken,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:19

Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord ,.... Who had made him king, and sent him on this errand, and gave him such plain directions, and such strong orders to make an entire consumption of Amalek: but didst fly upon the spoil ; like a bird of prey, such as an eagle or vulture, not to devote it to the Lord, by an entire destruction of it, but to seize it for his own use, as being greedily desirous and covetous of it: and didst evil in the sight of the Lord ? by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:20

And Saul said to Samuel, yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord ,.... Here Saul breaks in upon Samuel before he had declared all that the Lord had said unto him; for having expostulated with him for not obeying the voice of the Lord, he could not forbear interrupting him, but with the utmost assurance affirms he had obeyed the voice of the Lord; but then it was very imperfectly, and poor proof does he give of it: and have gone the way which the Lord sent me ; it is very true he went... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:21

But the people took the spoil, the sheep and oxen ,.... Still he continues to lay the blame on the people, when he, as king, ought to have restrained them: the chief of the things, which should have been utterly destroyed ; this betrays him, and is an evidence against him; he could not plead ignorance, he knew and he owns, that according to the command of God they were all devoted to destruction; and therefore he ought not to have suffered the people to have spared any on whatsoever... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:22

And Samuel said ,.... In reply to Saul: hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? no, certainly, the one being merely ceremonial, the other moral; the one supposes sin committed, for which sacrifice is offered; the other moral, and is a compliance with the will of God, and is neither sinful, nor supposes anything sinful, and therefore must be the more acceptable: behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than... read more

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:22

Group of Brands