1 Samuel 15:32-33

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 15:32

Then said Samuel, bring you hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites ,.... This he said very probably to some of Saul's officers, and in his presence, and before all the people met together for sacrifice: and Agag came unto him delicately ; fat and plump, as the Vulgate Latin version, and yet trembling, as that and the Septuagint; well dressed, in the garb and habit of a king, and with the air and majesty of one; or with pleasure and joy, as Kimchi, choosing rather to die than to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:33

And Samuel said, as thy sword hath made women childless ,.... Or, "bereaved F19 שכלה "orbavit", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, &c.; " them, not of their children only, but of their husbands also, and so made them both childless and widows; by which it appears that he was a cruel prince, and justly died for his own barbarity and wickedness, as well as for the sins of his ancestors four hundred years ago: so shall thy mother be childless among women ; which was according to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:32

Agag came unto him delicately - The Septuagint have τρεμων , trembling; the original, מעדנת maadannoth , delicacies; probably איש ish , man, understood; a man of delights, a pleasure-taker: the Vulgate, pinguissimus et tremens , "very fat and trembling." Surely the bitterness of death is past - Almost all the versions render this differently from ours. Surely death is bitter, is their general sense; and this seems to be the true meaning. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 15:33

As thy sword hath made women childless - It appears that Agag had forfeited his life by his own personal transgressions, and that his death now was the retribution of his cruelties. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces - What Samuel did here he did in his magisterial capacity; and, 2. It is not likely he did it by his own sword, but by that of an executioner. What kings, magistrates, and generals do, in an official way, by their subjects, servants, or soldiers, they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:32

Delicately . The Septuagint and Vulgate translate this word trembling, and the Syriac omits, probably from inability to give its meaning. Most commentators render cheerfully, joyfully, forming it from the same root as Eden, the garden of joy (comp. Psalms 36:8 , where Eden is translated pleasure ) . The very word, however, occurs in Job 38:31 , where the A.V. renders it bands, and this seems the right sense: "Agag came unto him in fetters." The idea that Agag came cheerfully is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:32-35

Painful duties. The facts are— 1 . Samuel summons Agag into his presence and hews him in pieces. 2 . Samuel departs from Saul, and though mourning for him, no longer holds any official connection with him. The effect of Saul's disobedience on the people would have been disastrous were the original command to be in any way evaded; and, therefore, though it was no part of the prophet's ordinary functions to act as executioner, Samuel so far deviated from his usual course, and put his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:33

As thy sword hath made women childless. Agag's life had been spent in freebooting expeditions, in which he had shed blood ruthlessly, and so justice required his execution in requital of his deeds to others. Samuel hewed Agag in pieces. The verb occurs only here, and probably refers to some particular method of execution, like the quartering of the middle ages. Being in the Piel conjugation, it would mean not so much that Samuel put Agag to death himself as that he commanded it to be done. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 15:32

Delicately - This phrase is very obscure. The meaning of the word so rendered is “dainties, delights” Genesis 49:20; Proverbs 29:17; Lamentations 4:5, which hardly gives a tolerable sense here. Some understand it “fawningly, flatteringly,” with a view of appeasing Samuel. (Others alter the reading, and translate “in bonds.”)Surely the bitterness ... - Agag hopes that his life will be spared, and so expresses his confident belief that the bitterness of death is over. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 15:33

Hewed in pieces - Only found in this passage. Samuel thus executed the חרם chērem 1 Samuel 15:3 which Saul had violated, and so both saved the nation from the guilt of a broken oath, and gave a final example to Saul, but apparently in vain, of uncompromising obedience to the commandments of God. There is something awful in the majesty of the prophet rising above and eclipsing that of the king (compare 1 Kings 21:20; Jeremiah 38:14 ff; Daniel 2:46; Daniel 4:27). read more

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