Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Joseph Benson’s Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 15:20-21

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 to throw all the blame on the people, whom he ought to have governed better; and it was worst of all to pretend religion for his disobedience. The things which should have been utterly destroyed Here he shows that he was conscious he had not done as he was commanded.

Continues after advertising

See also 1 Samuel 15:20-21 in other biblical comments:

  • 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...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    OBEYED. hearkened....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _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 br...

  • 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....

  • 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...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    YEA, I HAVE OBEYED... — These and the words which follow are simply a repetition of the king’s former excuse for his act: but they show us what was the state of Saul’s mind: he evidently disbelieved i...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל ־שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֤ר...

  • 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...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, (h) I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekit...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Lord. Septuagint, "of the people."_...

  • 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

    AND SAUL SAID TO SAMUEL, YEA, I HAVE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD,.... Here Saul breaks in upon Samuel before he had declared all that the Lord had said unto him; for having expostulated with him for...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites....

  • 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...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Saul said unto Samuel, still persisting in his denial of any blame on his part, YEA, I HAVE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD, AND HAVE GONE THE WAY WHICH THE LORD SENT ME, AND HAVE BROUGHT AGAG, THE K...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Samuel's Reproof...

  • 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

    He addeth obstinacy and impenitency to his crime, and justifies his fact, though he hath nothing of any moment to say but what he said before. So he gives Samuel the lie, and reflects upon him as one...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 15:20 Saul H7586 said H559 (H8799) Samuel H8050 obeyed H8085 (H8804) voice H6963 LORD H3068 gone...

  • 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

    _Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me._ SAUL’S OBEDIENCE We invite your attention to some features of Saul’s character, as drawn out by the way in w...

  • 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 15:13; 1 Samuel 15:3; 1 Samuel 15:8; Job 33:9; Job 34:5;...

  • 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

    The king — To be dealt with as God pleaseth....

Continues after advertising