1 Samuel 15:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

NIV: Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

NASB: And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, though Samuel mourned for Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

CSB: Even to the day of his death, Samuel never saw Saul again. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted he had made Saul king over Israel.

NLT: Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.

KJV: And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

NKJV: And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

Following Samuel's confrontation of Saul (1 Samuel 15:12–22) and declaration that the Lord had rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:23), the prophet and the king part ways and return to their homes (1 Samuel 15:34). Although they will live close to each other for several years, they won't see each other in an official capacity again. Other than a bizarre encounter (1 Samuel 19:18–24), Saul won't speak to Samuel again until the day of his own death (1 Samuel 28:19).

Samuel grieves over Saul. The Lord had chosen Saul to be king; Samuel had revealed this to Saul and had anointed him as king (1 Samuel 15:1). Samuel had mentored Saul, in a sense. The anger he expresses to Saul when they are together now turns to sadness when they are parted, perhaps revealing the Lord's own emotions about Israel's first king.

Still, the chapter ends by repeating what the Lord said of Himself earlier (1 Samuel 15:11). He felt grief over what has happened to Saul as king of Israel. The Hebrew word used here has broad meaning, and can refer to an admission of a mistake, but also to grief, pain, or even comfort. Samuel was clear that God makes no mistakes (1 Samuel 15:29). Yet the Lord can respond emotionally to the effects of sin and disobedience (Genesis 6:6–7; John 11:33–37).

It is telling that both Samuel and the Lord grieved over Saul so deeply. God is not vindictive and He does not rejoice in sin or its consequences (Ezekiel 18:30–32; Isaiah 45:22–23). "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (Psalm 103:8). God the Son took on human flesh, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again to deal with sin (John 3:16–18; 1 Corinthians 5:17–21). God Himself bore the penalty of sin so that we might have life (John 10:10; Romans 5:6–11; Ephesians 2:1–10)! When people choose to reject Him or His ways, it grieves Him. Second Peter 3:9–10 puts this into perspective: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." God desires all to come to repentance, and He will bring righteous judgment.

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.

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.