1 Samuel 15:21-25 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 15:21

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

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

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

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 15:21

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

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

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

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

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

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