1 Samuel 15:20-23 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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft ,.... Or divination F5 חטאת קסם "peccatum divinationis", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; "ariolandi", V. L. "magiae", Munster, Tigurine version. , in whatsoever way it was exercised; for there were various sorts of it among the Heathens, and all condemned by the law of God, Deuteronomy 18:10 . Now rebellion against God, or disobeying his commands, though in things otherwise, were they not forbidden by him, lawful to be done, is as heinous a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:21

To sacrifice unto the Lord - Thus he endeavors to excuse the people. They did not take the spoil in order to enrich themselves by it, but to sacrifice unto the Lord; and did not this motive justify their conduct? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:22

Hath the Lord as great delight , etc. - This was a very proper answer to, and refutation of Saul's excuse. Is not obedience to the will of God the end of all religion, of its rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft , and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry - This is no translation of those difficult words, הפצר ותרפים ואון מרי קסם חטאת כי ki chattath kesem meri veaven utheraphim haphtsar . It appears to me that the three nouns which occur first in the text refer each to the three last in order. Thus, חטאת chattath , Transgression, refers to און aven , Iniquity, which is the principle whence transgression springs. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:12-23

The sin of rebellion. The facts are— 1 . Saul, having raised a monument in honour of his victory, meets Samuel with a pious salutation, as though all were well. 2 . On being reminded of the presence of spoil, Saul explains by saying that it was spared for the worship of God in sacrifice. 3 . Samuel, referring to the instructions received from God, presses home upon him the fact of his guilt in disobeying the Lord. 4 . Saul, in response, maintains that substantially he has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:20-21

Saul's justifcation of himself is remarkable, as he seems entirely unconscious of having done anything wrong. His education had no doubt been defective ( 1 Samuel 10:12 ), and his knowledge of the law was probably very small; but he must have listened to Samuel's injunctions in a very off hand way, and have troubled himself about very little more than that he was to make war upon the Amalekites. There may even have been the wish in his mind to let Samuel know that he was now king, and would... read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:23

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:12-23

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:20-21

Group of Brands