1 Samuel 15:8-33 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1-9

Here, I. Samuel, in God's name, solemnly requires Saul to be obedient to the command of God, and plainly intimates that he was now about to put him upon a trial, in one particular instance, whether he would be obedient or no, 1 Sam. 15:1. And the making of this so expressly the trial of his obedience did very much aggravate his disobedience. 1. He reminds him of what God had done for him: ?The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be a king. God gave thee thy power, and therefore he expects thou... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

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 15:8

And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive ,.... This name seems to be a common name of the kings of these people, as Pharaoh was of the Egyptians, see Numbers 24:2 . When this king fell into the hands of Saul, he did not put him to death, as he should have done, but preserved him; for what reasons, see in the following verse: and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword ; that is, all that came in his way, or fell into his hands; all between Havilah and Shur;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:9

And Saul and all the people spared Agag ,.... Perhaps Saul made the motion to spare him, and the people agreed to it; it may be, out of respect to him as a king; or because of the comeliness of his person, the height of his stature, and the largeness of his body, as Josephus F25 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 7.) sect. 2. notes; or to carry him in triumph in a public show, see 1 Samuel 15:12 . and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings ; or "of the second sort",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:10

Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel ,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum; this came to him in a dream or vision, or by an articulate voice: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:11

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king ,.... Which is not to be understood of any change of mind, counsel, purpose, or decree in God, which is not consistent with his unchangeable nature; but of a change of dispensation, and outward dealings, and is spoken after the manner of men, who, when they repent of anything, change the course of their conduct and behaviour; and so the Lord does without any change of his mind and will, which alters not; and though he changes the outward... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:12

And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning ,.... Having had no sleep since the revelation of the will of God was made unto him, and therefore rose early, being in haste to converse with Saul about it: it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel ; not to Carmel where Elijah offered sacrifice, for that was very remote from hence; but to Carmel, a city in the tribe of Judah, which lay in the way of Saul's return from Amalek, Joshua 15:55 . and, behold, he set him up a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:13

And Samuel came to Saul ,.... At Gilgal: and Saul said unto him, blessed be thou of the Lord ; signifying that he had abundant reason to bless the Lord on his account, not only that he had anointed him king, but had sent him on such an errand, in which he had succeeded so well, and it was a pleasure to him that he might report it to him: I have performed the commandment of the Lord ; either he was really ignorant that he had done amiss; and thought that his sparing Agag, when he had... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:1-9

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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:32-35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:13

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