1 Samuel 15 - Printer Friendly

What does 1 Samuel 15 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

The Lord gives Saul a specific and brutal mission. Saul obeys only partly. Through Samuel, the Lord rejects Saul as king over Israel and prepares to select another, better king to lead His people.

Samuel comes to Saul with a message from the Lord, reminding Saul that he is the one who anointed him as king over Israel in the first place. Saul sets out to do as the Lord has commanded, assembling a massive army at Telaim to travel just south of Israel's southern border to attack the Amalekites. After warning the Kenites, who live among the people of Amalek, Saul and his army attack. They chase down and defeat the Amalekites over a wide area from Havilah to Shur (1 Samuel 15:4–7).

Saul and his army kill all the Amalekite people except for their king, Agag. Saul and the people also spare the best of Amalek's valuable animals, including sheep, oxen, calves, and lambs. This amounts to direct disobedience of the Lord's command to Saul (1 Samuel 15:8–9).

The Lord Himself tells the prophet Samuel about Saul's sin, saying that He regrets having made Saul king. After a night of anger and crying to the Lord, Samuel sets out to track Saul down and confront him, finally catching up to the king at Gilgal (1 Samuel 15:10–12).

Saul begins their conversation by claiming to have obeyed God's command. Samuel points out that he can hear the animals Saul failed to kill. Saul first blames it on his people and then says that they saved the animals to offer them as sacrifices to God at Gilgal (1 Samuel 15:13–16).

Samuel rejects both Saul's excuse and his reasoning. Saul is the king. The authority and the responsibility to carry out God's mission are his alone. Why did Saul disobey God and keep the spoils from the battle (1 Samuel 15:17–19)?

Saul doubles down on his claim that he did obey God, killing all the people and bringing back King Agag as captive. It was the people who spared the animals and brought them to Gilgal. Samuel officially rejects Saul's excuses in the form of a poem declaring that the Lord values obedience over sacrifices. Rebellion against the Lord is as bad as divination and idol worship. For this reason, the Lord has rejected Saul as Israel's king (1 Samuel 15:20–23).

Now Saul finally admits that he has sinned, disobeying God because he feared the people. He begs Samuel to pardon his sin and to go with him to bow before the Lord in worship. Samuel refuses to go with Saul, stating even more clearly that the Lord has rejected him as king. As Samuel turns to leave, Saul grabs the hem of the prophet's robe in a sign of desperate submission and humility, tearing it in the process. Samuel says that the Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from Saul on this day and given it to another, better man. Saul should quit asking because God will not change His mind (1 Samuel 15:24–29).

Saul admits once more that he has sinned and begs Samuel once more to come with him to bow before the Lord in full view of the elders of Israel. This time, Samuel agrees. Before he leaves Gilgal, though, Samuel orders that the Amalekite king be brought to him. The prophet declares Agag's death sentence and hacks the man to pieces before the Lord (1 Samuel 15:30–33).

Samuel and Saul part ways for the last time, each returning to their homes. Samuel grieves over Saul and does not officially visit him again during his lifetime. The Lord regrets having made Saul king (1 Samuel 15:34–35).

First Samuel 15:1–9 describes Saul's partial obedience to God regarding the Amalekites. Half-obedience is the same as disobedience; Saul spares the enemy king and many of the valuable animals. This is contrary to the Lord's command. As a result, God will inform the prophet Samuel that God intends to replace Saul as king over Israel.

First Samuel 15:10–23 records God's response to Saul's partial obedience regarding the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3, 9). The Lord tells Samuel that Saul's acts—which amount to rejecting God's commands—will result in the end of Saul's rule. When Samuel confronts Saul, the king makes excuses and claims he intended to sacrifice the condemned animals to the Lord. Samuel responds with a poetic statement about how God wants obedience, not arrogant attempts to improve on His commands.

First Samuel 15:24–35 demonstrates that the Lord is firm in His rejection of Saul. Saul disobeyed God's commands about the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3, 9). After Samuel's confrontation (1 Samuel 15:22–23), Saul admits his guilt. Samuel refuses to offer a pardon. As he leaves, Saul clutches at Samuel's robe and tears it. Samuel says this symbolizes how the throne will be torn out of Saul's hands. Samuel follows Saul to Gilgal and personally, brutally executes the Amalekite king Agag. This is the last time Samuel will come to meet with Saul.

Chapter Summary:

Samuel gives Saul a mission from the Lord: fulfill God's judgment on the Amalekites by killing all the people and all the animals. Saul and his army defeat Amalek, but they spare the king and the best animals. Samuel confronts Saul and reveals that because of his disobedience, the Lord has rejected Saul as king over Israel. Samuel worships the Lord with Saul one last time and then executes the Amalekite king Saul failed to kill.

Chapter Context:

First Samuel 14 ended with a summary of Saul's reign; chapter 15 describes God's rejection of Saul as king. First Samuel 13 had already indicated that Saul's household would not retain the kingdom due to Saul's disobedience (1 Samuel 13:8–14); here Saul himself is rejected. The Lord commands Saul to fulfill His longstanding judgment against the Amalekites. Saul and his army defeat Amalek, but Saul disobeys God by sparing the king and the best animals. Saul eventually admits that he has sinned, but Samuel says God will not change His mind about rejecting Saul as king. From a heavenly perspective, Saul is rejected; but from an earthly perspective, he would continue his rule for another fifteen to twenty years.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

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