1 Samuel 15:1-9. Saul's commission to destroy Amalek 1. _Samuel also said_ AND SAMUEL SAID. How long after the repulse of the Philistines this happened, we are not told. Some years at least must be allowed for the evident development of that wilfulness which was Saul's ruin. _The Lord sent me_ ME... [ Continue Reading ]
_I remember_ Rather, I HAVE REVIEWED, or, CONSIDERED. Vulg. _recensui_. _that which Amalek did to Israel_ The origin of the powerful tribe of the Amalekites is uncertain. According to one view they had migrated from the East: according to another they were the descendants of Esau's grandson Amalek ... [ Continue Reading ]
_utterly destroy all that they have_ The word translated "utterly destroy" means "to ban," or "to devote," and hence since that which was _cherem_or "devoted" might not be taken as spoil, it comes to signify "utterly destroy." See Leviticus 27:28-29; Joshua 6:17 ff. The word is used in Samuel only i... [ Continue Reading ]
_in Telaim_ Nowhere else mentioned, unless it is the same as _Telem_(Joshua 15:24), the position of which in the southern border of Judah suits the circumstances. The name means "lambs," and was probably derived from the pastures in the neighbourhood. _ten thousand men of Judah_ This implies that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_a city of Amalek_ Perhaps the capital or chief settlement was simply called _Ir-Amalek_= "the city of Amalek," as Rabbah was called _Ar_or _Ir-Moab_= "the city of Moab" (Numbers 21:28; Numbers 22:36). _in the valley_ Heb. _nachal_, which signifies a ravine or torrent-bed. See _Sinai and Palestine_... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Kenites_ This tribe, as may be inferred from the fact that Jethro, Moses" father-in-law, the priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1), is called a Kenite in Judges 1:16, was an offshoot from the Midianites. The services done to Israel by Jethro and his son Hobab (Exodus 18; Numbers 10:29-32) led to a firm... [ Continue Reading ]
_from Havilah until thou comest to Shur_ The region occupied by the Ishmaelites is described in the same terms in Genesis 25:18. _Havilah_is supposed to be a district of Arabia, but its position cannot be fixed with any certainty. _Shur_is repeatedly mentioned in connexion with the route from Palest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Agag Agag_perhaps means "fiery." As the name is found in Numbers 24:7, it was probably an hereditary title, like Pharaoh among the Egyptians. _utterly destroyed all the people_ All who fell into their bands. Some survived, and continued a guerilla warfare against the Israelites (1 Samuel 27:8; 1 S... [ Continue Reading ]
_spared Agag_ Perhaps to grace his triumph and to be an evidence of his victory (Judges 1:7): perhaps from a feeling of sympathy with a fellow king (1 Kings 20:32). _and the best of the sheep_, &c. In direct violation of the Divine command. It was to be a sacred war from which the people were to ta... [ Continue Reading ]
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 conduct of those with whom He is dealing leads to a corresponding change in His plans and purposes tow... [ Continue Reading ]
_to Carmel_ Carmel ("park" or "garden") was a city in the mountainous country of Judah, about seven miles S.S.E. of Hebron. Saul would naturally pass through it in returning from the war. The site is marked by the ruins of a large town bearing the name _Kurmul_(Robinson, _Bibl. Res_. I. 495 ff). Her... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be thou of the_Lord] Cp. Genesis 14:19; Genesis 24:31; Ruth 3:10; 2 Samuel 2:5. Saul attempts to conciliate Samuel with a friendly greeting. His conscience can scarcely have been so hardened that he was insensible of his sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Saul said_, &c. Saul tries (_a_) like Aaron at Sinai (Exodus 32:22), to shift the blame from himself on to others; (_b_) to palliate the offence by alleging a good motive. But "the king who heeded the voice of his army in such a matter shewed that he was not their leader, but their tool and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stay_ Forbear! cease these flimsy excuses!... [ Continue Reading ]
_When thou wast little_ IS IT NOT THE CASE THAT THOUGH THOU WAST LITTLE IN THINE OWN EYES, THOU HAST BEEN MADE HEAD OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL? There is a reference to Saul's own words of astonishment that he should be chosen as king (1 Samuel 9:21). The prophet desires to remind him that as his elevat... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sinners the Amalekites_ Sin was the ground of their doom. The special sin which singled them out for punishment was their opposition to the will of God as regards the destiny of his people Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea, I have obeyed_ Saul still persists in justifying his conduct. (_a_) He had fulfilled his mission and destroyed the Amalekites, and brought Agag with him in proof thereof. (_b_) The people had brought home the spoil for sacrifice, not for themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 "devoted," it did not belong to the Israelites, and no offering could be made of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
With a burst of prophetic inspiration Samuel rends asunder Saul's tissue of excuses, and lays bare his sin. His words are the key-note of the long remonstrance of the prophets in subsequent ages against the too common error of supposing that external ceremonial can be of any value in the sight of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
_rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft_, &c. Opposition to the will of God is as bad as divination by the help of evil spirits, which is tantamount to apostasy from God: obstinate resistance to Him is no better than worshipping idols (_vanity_or _emptiness_) and images (_teraphim_: see note on 1 Sam... [ Continue Reading ]
The rejection of Saul 24. _I have sinned_ Though a formal confession of his sin is extorted from Saul, he does not humble himself before God in genuine penitence. He still tries to shift the blame on to the people, and his chief anxiety is lest the breach between Samuel and himself should become a... [ Continue Reading ]
_the skirt of his mantle_ Some kind of a LAPPET or flap hanging down behind, which could be easily torn or cut off, seems to be meant. Cp. 1 Samuel 24:4. As Samuel turned to go, Saul seized it to detain him, and it was torn off. The accident served Samuel as an emblem of the complete severance of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Strength of Israel_ This word, which occurs here only as a title of God, combines the ideas of _stability, permanence, constancy_: the Strength or Confidence of Israel does not change as men do. _will not lie nor repent_ The words closely resemble Numbers 23:19. There is a verbal contradiction... [ Continue Reading ]
_honour me now_, &c. John 5:44; John 12:43 point to the radical defect in Saul's character.... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Samuel turned again_ Changing his purpose in order to maintain the honour of the reigning king, for although Saul had forfeited his position as Jehovah's chosen representative, he must still rule the nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
The execution of Agag. Samuel's departure 32. _delicately_ Rather, CHEERFULLY: not fearing any harm from the aged prophet, as the king had spared his life. But the meaning of the word is very doubtful. The Sept. has "trembling;" the Vulg. a curious double rendering, "sleek and trembling" (_pinguiss... [ Continue Reading ]
_As thy sword_, &c. By the law of retaliation Agag's life was forfeit. Cp. Judges 1:7. _hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord_ A solemn execution of the Divine sentence which Saul had neglected. The word rendered "hewed in pieces" is a different one from that used in 1 Samuel 11:7, and occurs nowher... [ Continue Reading ]