YHWH COMMANDS HIS ANOINTED TO SLAY THE AMALEKITES AS A DIVINE JUDGMENT
ON THEM (1 SAMUEL 15:1).
It is important to recognise in this passage that Saul is specifically
instructed as ‘the anointed of YHWH' and is called on to act as His
instrument of justice on the Amalekites. He is to ‘devote' the
A... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE AMALEKITES AND HIS SACRILEGE WITH REGARD
TO THE DEVOTED THINGS (1 SAMUEL 15:4).
1 Samuel 15:4
‘ And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two
hundred military units of footmen, and ten military units of men of
Judah.'
In obedience to YHWH's command Sau... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH'S RESPONSE TO THEIR ACTIONS (1 SAMUEL 15:10).
YHWH's response was to reject Saul from being king on the grounds of
sacrilege and high treason, that is, because by his actions he had
rejected his Overlord's commands, and had committed sacrilege against
what belonged wholly to YHWH.
1 Samuel 15... [ Continue Reading ]
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THAT YHWH HAS WITHDRAWN FROM HIM HIS SUPPORT (1 SAMUEL 15:12).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
last that we heard of him he was in Gibeah (1 Samuel 13:15). However
much had happened since that t... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMUEL COMPLETES WHAT SAUL HAD FAILED TO COMPLETE (1 SAMUEL 15:32).
Samuel recognised that what had been devoted to YHWH must be given to
him, and so he calls for Agag to be brought and executes him. And
although it is not mentioned we would assume that Samuel also insisted
on the ‘devoted' animals... [ Continue Reading ]