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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

1 Samuel 15:21

But the people, upon whom Saul again lays all the blame, took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, the firstlings of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto the Lord, thy God, in Gilgal. Saul evaded the plain words of the Lord that everything was to be put under the ban, and that therefore the animals could no longer be used for burnt offerings.

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See also 1 Samuel 15:21 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Samuel 15:21. _TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD_] Thus he endeavours to excuse the people. They did not take the spoil in order to _enrich_ _themselves_ by it, but to _sacrifice unto the Lord_; and...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THE LORD THY GOD - There is an implied censure of Samuel in this phrase. Saul says that Samuel blames him for what was done in honor of Samuel’s God; as if be had more zeal for the glory of God than w...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    8. WAR WITH AMALEK: SAUL'S DISOBEDIENCE AND REJECTION CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The commission to destroy Amalek (1 Samuel 15:1)_ 2. Saul's disobedience and rejection (1 Samuel 15:10) 3. Saul's confession ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    XV. THE WAR AGAINST AMALEK; SAUL'S DISOBEDIENCE AND DEPOSITION (E). - A section of a secondary narrative; according to the scheme adopted here, the last section of this document was 1 Samuel 3:3 to 1...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed_ THE CHIEF OF THE DEVOTED THINGS (_cherem_). It might seem a praiseworthy act to reserve the spoil for sacrifice: but since it was "de...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Saul's disobedience and its penalty 11. _It repenteth me_ "God's repentance is the change of His dispensation." In the language of the O. T. God is said to repent when a change in the character and co...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _Samuel Delivers the Lord's Message of Condemnation. 1 Samuel 15:10-23_ 10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying. 11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul _to be_ king: for he is turne...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND THE LORD SENT THEE ON A JOURNEY, AND SAID, GO AND UTTERLY DESTROY THE SINNERS THE AMALEKITES, AND FIGHT AGAINST THEM UNTIL THEY BE CONSUMED._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    15:21 choicest (a-12) 'First-fruits.' devoted (b-15) Devoted by curse to destruction....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SAUL'S VICTORY OVER AMALEK. HIS DISOBEDIENCE AND REJECTION Amalek had attacked Israel at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8) and opposed their entrance into Canaan (Numbers 14:45 : cp. Deuteronomy 25:7; They are m...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 15 GOD REFUSES SAUL AS KING V1 Samuel said to Saul, ‘The *Lord sent me to *anoint you as king over his people, the *Israelites. Now listen to...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּקַּ֨ח הָ עָ֧ם מֵ הַ שָּׁלָ֛ל

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXI. _ THE FINAL REJECTION OF SAUL_ 1 Samuel 15:1. HERE we find the second portion of God's indictment against Saul, and the reason for his final rejection from the office to which he had be...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXIII. _ DAVID'S EARLY LIFE*_ (* A few paragraphs on the Life of David are reproduced from the author's book “David, King of Israel.") 1 Samuel 15:14. BEFORE we enter at large into the inc...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    SHALLOW REPENTANCE UNAVAILING 1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel was deeply moved when he heard of Saul's failure, “and he cried unto the Lord all night.” Thus he was prepared to accost the sinful king. Mr. Finne...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Saul was commissioned by Jehovah through Samuel to smite Amalek, and it was in connection with this that the sin occurred which filled his cup to the brim and caused him to be rejected. His campaign...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _First-fruits, or the best. --- Slain. Hebrew, "of the anathema."_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (13) And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. (14) And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in m...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have already seen that the desire and deliberate decision of the people for a king was a direct blow at the government of God in Israel; but the time was come to permit the will of the people to ha...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS_ ‘And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me,’ etc. 1 Samuel 15:20 It will appear somewhat startlin...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Nevertheless Saul is put to a final proof. Jehovah, by the mouth of Samuel, sends him to smite Amalek, and utterly destroy them and all that belonged to them. They were the cruel and determined enemie...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 B...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. Ver. 21. _But the people took, &c._]...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Have brought Agag the king_ To be dealt with as God pleaseth. Strange stupidity! to imagine such a partial obedience could be pleasing unto God. _But the people took of the spoil_ It was a mean thing...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Samuel sendeth Saul to destroy Amalek. 6 Saul fauoureth the Kenites. 8 Hee spareth Agag and the best of the spoile. 10 Samuel denounceth vnto Saul commending and excusing himselfe, Gods reiection...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    God had a more solemn controversy with the Amalekites than with the Philistines. The mere formal worship typified by the Philistines is empty; but Amalekite "lusts of the flesh" are a deadly enemy tha...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    10-23 Repentance in God is not a change of mind, as it is in us, but a change of method. The change was in Saul; "He is turned back from following me." Hereby he made God his enemy. Samuel spent a wh...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Heb. _the chief of the devoted things_; which being devoted to destruction, I thought it most proper to destroy them by way of sacrifice to God. But God had commanded Saul himself to smite and slay al...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 15:21 people H5971 took H3947 (H8799) plunder H7998 sheep H6629 oxen H1241 best H7225 destroyed H2764 s

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    SAMUEL SEEKS SAUL OUT IN ORDER TO GIVE HIM A STERN REBUKE AND DECLARE THAT YHWH HAS WITHDRAWN FROM HIM HIS SUPPORT (1 SAMUEL 15:12). We do not know for sure where Samuel was at this time although the...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Samuel 15:20 It will appear somewhat startling to any one who first notices it how very little is said in the Bible about truthfulness. The reason is that truthfulness is not a strictly religious du...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Samuel 15 _(with 1 Timothy 1:19)_ The story of Saul is among the saddest which Scripture anywhere contains. I. Notice first the singular elements of nobleness which are to be traced in his natural...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Saul's incomplete obedience and his rejection as king. CHARACTERS: God, Samuel, Saul, Agag. CONCLUSION: Some judge many things in their lives, but spare one Agag which the Lord has condemn...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 15:2. _I remember what Amalek did; Numbers 17:8_; and what he has often repeated, in the effusion of innocent blood. He joined Midian, and the children of the east, in a bloody and unprovoked...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king._ SAUL REJECTED The story is graphic and pathetic. This is Saul’s victory and also his defeat. Our defeats are often wrapped up in our victories. S...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:1 The Lord finally rejects Saul as king. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:20 I HAVE OBEYED... BUT THE PEOPLE. See note on v. 15. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 15:4. “TELAIM.” Most likely the same as _Telem_ (Joshua 15:21; Joshua 15:24), a city lying on the eastern border of Judah, and therefore near the territory of t...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    FINAL REJECTION OF SAUL (1 Samuel 15:1.) EXPOSITION DIVINE COMMAND TO PUNISH THE AMALEKITES, AND ITS EXECUTION BY SAUL ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now as we get into chapter fifteen, Samuel came to Saul, and said, The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel: now hearken unto the voice of the words of the Lord (1 Samue...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 15:15; Exodus 32:22; Exodus 32:23; Genesis 3:13...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE 1 Samuel 15:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Disobedience is black with the frown of God. Sin is the transgression of the Law. Disobedience is taking one's own way, as against...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    But the people, &c. — Here the conscience of Saul begins to awake, tho' but a little: for he still lays the blame on the people....

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