1 Samuel 15:22 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 15:22

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

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

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 15:22-23

The rebuke of Samuel contains one of those pregnant sayings which mark the high moral tone of the teaching of the prophets, and soon became a fundamental principle with them. To obey is better than sacrifice is a dictum reproduced by Hosea ( Hosea 6:6 ), the most ancient of those prophets of Israel whose lessons have been preserved in writing; it is referred to in still earlier psalms (see Psalms 1:1-6 :8-14; Psalms 51:16 , Psalms 51:17 ); by other prophets ( Isaiah 1:11 ; ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 15:22

Hath the Lord ... - A grand example of the moral and spiritual teaching of the prophets (see the marginal references). The tension of Samuel’s spirit, as he is about to pronounce the sentence of rejection, produces a lyrical turn of thought and language. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 15:22

1 Samuel 15:22. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice A most divine admonition this, and inculcated by all the following inspired writers, by David, Solomon, and the prophets; as the reader may see by consulting the margin. Obedience to God is a moral duty, constantly and indispensably necessary; but sacrifice is but a ceremonial institution, sometimes unnecessary, as it was in the wilderness; and sometimes sinful, when it is offered by a polluted hand, or in an irregular manner.... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1-35

War against the Amalekites (15:1-35)The Amalekites came under the same curse as those Canaanite nations that were to be destroyed (15:1-3; cf. Exodus 17:8-16; Deuteronomy 20:16-18; Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Again Saul’s obedience was tested, and again he failed. His kingly power gave him no right to alter God-given instructions to suit himself (4-9).God sent Samuel to tell Saul of the consequences of his disobedience (10-16; cf. 13:13-14). Religious sacrifices and military victories were no... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 15:22

to obey = to hearken to. to hearken = to give heed. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 15:22-26

1 Samuel 15:22-26. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord, &c.— The excision of the Amalekites, and the rejection of Saul for omitting to fulfil the commission given to him, have been objected to by free-thinkers. I. With respect to the first, there was God's express order for it: and what can we desire more than an order from heaven? As to God's dealings with nations in the way of vindictive justice, we are not competent judges of every case, because we have not the whole of the matter laid before... read more