1 Samuel 15:1-35
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:1 The Lord finally rejects Saul as king. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:1 The Lord finally rejects Saul as king. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:2 WHAT AMALEK DID TO ISRAEL. The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe that inhabited the desert south of Judah (Numbers 13:29). They attacked Israel at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8), and the Lord declared war on them (Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 25:17). They joined other groups agains... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:3 DEVOTE TO DESTRUCTION. This usually meant that all living things—men, women, children, and livestock—were to be killed (see notes on Deut. 20:16–18; Joshua 6:17). This was done partly to protect Israel from the influence of paganism. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEle... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:4 Although the army of JUDAH is mentioned separately (as also in 1 Samuel 11:8), it seems that Judahites in general considered themselves part of the larger nation. Judah was near the Amalekites and must have been particularly affected by their raids (1 Samuel 30:14). ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:6 KENITES. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was a Kenite (Judges 1:16). He and his son had been helpful to the Israelites (Exodus 18:1; Numbers 10:29). DEPART;... LEST I DESTROY YOU WITH THEM. The Kenites had settled among the Amalekites. Saul’s action in this situation is ad... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:9 SPARED is in sharp contrast to Samuel’s instructions (“Do not spare,” v. 1 Samuel 15:3). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:11 I REGRET (also vv. 1 Samuel 15:29, 1 Samuel 15:35). Here, as in Genesis 6:6, the Lord “regrets” something. This means that God feels genuine sorrow when contemplating Saul’s sin. It does not mean that God thinks his decision to make Saul king was a mistake in his plan... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:12 CARMEL here is a town in Judah about 7 miles (11 km) south of Hebron. That Saul has gone there to SET UP A MONUMENT FOR HIMSELF raises further suspicions about his character. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, im... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:15 Saul’s excuse for his disobedience (THE PEOPLE SPARED) contrasts with the facts (“Saul and the people spared,” v. 1 Samuel 15:9). TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD. They were probably also planning to share in eating the sacrifices, contrary to the order for destructi... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:17 Samuel reminds Saul here again (see v. 1 Samuel 15:1) that THE LORD ANOINTED YOU KING OVER ISRAEL. Why should Saul, as God’s anointed, yield to the people’s opinion over God’s directions? He became king because the people asked for a king; now he is rejected because h... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:20 I HAVE OBEYED... BUT THE PEOPLE. See note on v. 15. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:22 The Lord himself does not need SACRIFICES like the gods of other religions. Rather, the people need to bring sacrifices in order to approach the holy God (see Leviticus 1:1). Even the best SACRIFICE without obedience gains nothing. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElem... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:23 REBELLION (see 1 Samuel 12:15) and PRESUMPTION mean rejecting the Lord. The Hebrew word translated IDOLATRY refers to either “household gods” (Genesis 31:19; Judges 17:5; 1 Samuel 19:13) or “ancestor figurines” used as aids in divination ... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:24 Saul confesses, I HAVE SINNED. At least he admits the basic issue (I FEARED THE PEOPLE). Instead of being struck with the awfulness of his sin, Saul is more concerned with his reputation among the people (v. 1 Samuel 15:30). THE LORD HAS REJECTED YOU FROM BEING KING.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:27 Saul seizes the SKIRT OF Samuel’s ROBE as a final, humble plea for mercy. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:28 The term THIS DAY is used in a legal sense: the rejection is final and has already taken effect (see Ruth 4:9; Psalms 2:7). In God’s sight, the kingdom has already been TORN from Saul and GIVEN to someone else (past tense), though the actual act is yet to come. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:29 Verses 1 Samuel 15:11 and 1 Samuel 15:35 say that God regretted making Saul king, while here Samuel denies that God will ever LIE OR HAVE REGRET. The term for “have regret” can be translated “relent” or “change one’s mind” (e.g., Exodus 32:14; Numbers 23:19; Psalms 10... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:30 HONOR ME NOW. What Saul wants most is now clearly seen (see vv. 1 Samuel 15:24). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:31 Samuel chooses to stay with Saul. This could be because of concern for Saul personally (v. 1 Samuel 15:35) or for the peace of the nation. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:32 BRING HERE TO ME AGAG. Samuel himself takes on the task that Saul failed to finish. HACKED... TO PIECES was not the normal means of putting to death. Usually slaying BEFORE THE LORD involves sacrificing an animal (see Exodus 29:11; Leviticus 1:5). In this case Agag hi... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:34 RAMAH is only 2 miles (3.2 km) from GIBEAH. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 15:35 Formerly angry, Samuel now GRIEVED OVER SAUL. On THE LORD REGRETTED, see notes on vv. 11 and 29. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]