1 Samuel 15:1

SAUL FAILS HIS FINAL TEST

This episode is not a variable account of Saul's rejection in 13:8ff. Yes, it is true that God warned Saul at that time of the loss of his dynasty; but the Bible abundantly bears out the opinion of R. P. Smith that, "God never finally rejects a man until, after repeated opportunities for repentance, he finally proves himself obdurate."[1] The passage which proves that God thus deals with men is Jeremiah 18:7-10. In this light, therefore, we reject as totally inaccurate the notion that, "This chapter contains a second version of the reason for Saul's rejection as king."[2] All of the talk of critical commentators about `different sources' and `contradictory accounts' are of no value except in their indication of such writers' ignorance of the Word of God.

Willis' remarkably discerning understanding of this chapter is evident in his statement that, "Both of the accounts in 1 Samuel 15:13 and here record two different historical events."[3] Furthermore, as also noted by Willis, "God did not reject Saul for a single isolated act of disobedience, but because Saul repeatedly disobeyed him and took matters into his own hands."[4]

The fact is that all three chapters (1 Samuel 13; 1 Samuel 14; and 1 Samuel 15) record successive instances of Saul's taking matters into his own hands and rejecting any restraint whatever upon his actions by what was obviously the will of God. Again, referring to Jeremiah 18:7-10, no believer will find any fault whatever with what is written in these chapters.

GOD COMMANDS SAUL TO DESTROY THE AMALEKITES

"And Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore hearken unto the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, `I will punish what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way, when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.'"

"Therefore hearken to the words of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts ..." (1 Samuel 15:1-2). In this passage, Samuel took every precaution to make it certain that Saul understood that his instructions were not those of the prophet, but were the commandments of God; and there was no reason whatever, why Saul should have failed to believe what Samuel said. The things which Samuel had previously said to Saul had all come true; and any person in his right mind would have had no reason to doubt that what Samuel identified to Saul as God's commandments, were indeed just that.

"Go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy ..." (1 Samuel 15:3). The Amalekites were the first pagan nation to attack the Jews following their deliverance from Egypt; "And God at that time threatened them with extermination as a consequence (Exodus 17:8-16)."[5] Centuries had elapsed since then. "God often bears long with those who are marked for ruin, but he will not bear always."[6] So it proved to be in the case of the Amalekites. "God had sworn that in the process of time, he would utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek. This was bloody work; and Saul was chosen to do it."[7] As we shall see, Saul did not do as he was commanded.

Some writers try to defend Saul's disobedience, and even commend what they call his humanitarian considerations in sparing Agag, and perhaps a great many others. However, the ban, the [~cherem], the total destruction of a city, or a people, was widely practiced in those times. Besides, it was God's command here.

"An example of this is recorded on the Moabite Stone (lines 14ff), dating from the 9th century B.C.: "And Chemosh said to me, `Go take Nebo from Israel'! So I went by night and fought against it from the break of dawn until noon, taking it and slaying all, seven thousand men, boys, women, girls, and maid-servants, for I had devoted them to destruction for (the god) Ashtar-Chemosh".[8]

Anything "devoted" was to be destroyed utterly and could not be used personally by the victors. This custom, practiced by all nations was well known to Saul. Furthermore, his savage murder of the entire priesthood at Nob indicates that there was not a single humanitarian thread in Saul's character.