1 Samuel 15

Samuel commandeth Saul to destroy the Amalekites, vers.2, &c. Saul mustereth his men, which are two hundred thousand and ten thousand strong, 4. He commandeth the Kenites to depart from Amalek, 6. Saul slayeth the Amalekites, but spareth the King, and the best of the goods, 7. This dipleaseth the Lord exceedingly, 11. Samuel reproveth Saul, and telleth him, (notwithstanding his excuses and acknowledgement of guilt) that God had taken away the kingdom from him, for his thankfulness and disobedience, 14. The rent of Samuels mantle, signifieth that the Kingdom was rent from saul, 27. God can-not lie, 29. Samuel heweth Agag the King of the Amalekites in pieces, 33. Goeth home, and mourneth for Saul,34.

1. Then said Samuel unto Saul, the LORD sent me to anoint thee King over his people, over Israel; now therefore hear the voice of the words of the LORD.

2. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I have visited [i.e. examined, considered, observed. Oth. I will certainly visite. As if God spake of the future, as of that which was past] that which Amalek did unto Israel, how he set himself against him on the way, when he came up out of Egypt.

3. Now go thy way, and smite Amalek, and ban all that he hath, [i.e. destroy utterly, and slay all that hath life, or every living thing] and spare him not: but slay from the man to the woman, from the children to the sucklings, from the Oxen to the Sheep, from the Camels to the Asses.

4. This Saul told to the people, and numbered them at Telaim, [i.e. in the field by the City Telaim, lying in the tribe of Juda, which Jos.15.24. is called Thelem] two hundred thousand footmen: and ten thousand men of Juda.

5. When Saul came to the City of Amalek, [Understand this either of the first City of the Amalekites, before with Saul came, or of the metropolis or chief City of the Amalekites, where peradventure the King dwelt, and kept his Souldiers: Or City may be taken for Cities, for the Amalekites inhabited more Cities then one] then he had an ambush in the valley.

6. And Saul send word to the Kenites, (saying) Go away, depart, go down out of the midst of the Amalekites, [This short abrupt manner of speaking, signifieth that they were to make haste in breaking up. See the like phrase, Genes.18.6.] left I convey you away with them, [i.e. lest I deal by you, as I inted to deal by them] for ye shewed mercy unto all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt: [This is properly to be understood of Jethro the Kenite, Moseh his father in Law, from whom the Kenites descended] So the Kenites departed out of the midst of the Amalekites.

7. Then smote Saul the Amalekites from Havila [A Land lying in Arabia. See Genes. Chap.2. vers.11.] until where thou comest to Sur, [this is the border of Arabia toward Egypt. See Genes.16.17. and 25.18. There is likewise mention made, Exod.15.22. of the wildernesse of Sur] which is over against Egypt.

8. And he took Agag [It’s thought that this was a name common to all the Kings of the Amalekites, as Pharao to the Kings of Egypt, and Abimelech to the Kings at Gerar] the King of the Amalekites alive, but he handed all the people by the edge of the sword.

9. But Saul and all the people spared Agag, and the best Sheep, and Oxen, and the next (to the best,) [i.e. the middle sort. Oth. the fatted, or, fatlings] and the Lambs, [Oth. Leaders of the cattel, Oth. Bell-weathers] and all that was best, [this God had forbidden, vers.3.] and they would not ban them: but every thing that was despicable, and that was perishing, [Heb. that melted; i.e. that in it self perished, and as it were melted away] that they banned.

10. Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying:

11. It repenteth me [This is spoken after the manner of men. See the annotat. On Genes.6.6. also below chap.16.1. So that that which is said below vers.29. is no way contrary or repugnant to this] that I have made Saul King, because he hath turned himself back away from after me, and hath not established my words: [i.e. he hath not suffered my command to prevail with him, that he should have faithfully excuted the same. Compare Deut.27.26.] then Samuel kindled, [viz. with grief and wrath. He kindled against Saul, because he had not performed Gods command] and he cried unto the LORD all night. [Samuel prayed unto the Lord for Saul, that he would not despose him from the Kingdom, but God heard not this prayer of Samuel, as may appear below vers.23.26. and 28.]

12. Afterward Samuel gat him up early in the morning, to meet Saul: and it was told Samuel, [Oth. notice was given, &c. saying, Saul is come to Carmel, [a City and hill in the tribe of Juda, which lay on the way, as they passé out of the Amalekites Countrey into Juda, Jos.15.55. very fruitful in pasture and other fruits. There is another Carmel in the tribe of Issaschan, I Kings 18.19.] and behold, he hath set him (up) a pillar. [Heb. a hand; i.e. a memorial, perhaps in the fashion of a hand, in remembrance that he smote and consumed the enemies with the hand. See like, 2 Sam18.18. Oth. and had appointed a place, viz. to refresh and view his army, and to divide the prey] afterward he is gone about, and passed thorow, and come down to Gilgal.

13. Now Samuel came unto Soul said unto him, Blessed art thou unto the LORD, I have established the word of the LORD. [See Above VII.]

14. Then said Samuel, what meaneth then he voice of sheep in mine ears, and the voice of the oxen that I hear?

15. Now Saul said, they have brought the Amalekites, for the people have spared the best sheep and oxen, [See above verse 9] to offer unto the LORD thy God: but the rest we have banned.

16. Then said Samuel, cease, so will I tell thee, what the LORD spake to me this night: the he said speak (on).

17. And Samuel said, Is it not (thus), when thou wast little in thine eyes, [I e. when thou esteemedst thy slf little and mean/; see above chapter 9.21] that thou art be come the head of tribes of Israeel? And that the LORD hath anointed thee [viz. by me] to be King over Isreal?

18. And the LORD hath set thee on the way, [i. e. Upon this design and expectation against the Amalekites, to also ver. 20.] and said go thy way and ban the sinners ,overtopping others in sinnes and wickedness. Compare Genesis 13:13.Psalm1.1.Matt.9.10& 11.19. Job 9:24, 31] the Amalekites, and fight against them, until thou bring them nothing.

19. Wherefore now didst thou not hearken to the voice of the LORD, but didst fly to the prey, [See the annotate on 1 Sam 25.14] and didst that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD?

20. Then said Saul unto Samuel, yes, I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD, and have walked on the way on which the LORD sent me: and I have brought (with me) Agag the King of the Amalekites, but I have banned the Amalekites.

21. Now the people took of the spoil, [As if he had said not I, but the people, whom I feared , verse 24. Took of the prey] Sheep and oxen the chiefest, [Heb. The firstlings] of the banned (thing) to offer unto the LORD thy God at Gilgal.

22. But Samuel said, Hath the Lord delight in burnt-offerings, and slay-offerings, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? behold, to obey is better than slay-offerings, to attend then the fat of the ram.

23. For rebellion is a sinne of witchcraft, [i.e. It’s as great a sinne as witchcraft is] and to oppose is Idolatry, [the Hebrew word signifieth Vanity, iniquity, and sometimes labour, pain, travel, also an idol, and idol-worship, or idolatry, so called, because Idolaters bestow much labour and pains in the performance of their idolatrous superstitions, which are all meer vanities, and have nothing of reality in them]and image- worship: [Heb. Teraphim. See the annotat on Gen.31.19] because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, therefore he hath rejected thee, that thou shalt not be King.

24. Then said Saul unto Samuel, I have sinned, because I have transgressed the LORD’S command [Heb. mouth: i.e. That which God by thy mouth hath spoken] and thy words : for I feared the people, and hearkened to their voice.

25. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sinne: and turn again with me. That I may worship the LORD.

26. But Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee; because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, therefore the LORD hath rejected thee, that thou shalt not be King over Israel.

27. Then Samuel turned himself about to go away: then he [viz. Saul] took hold of a skirt [Heb. a wing; i.e. skirt, or, gard, by which Saul would hold the Prophet Samuel fait] of his mantle, and it rent.

28. Then said Samuel unto him, The LORD hath said this day rent off the Kingdome of Israel from thee, and hath given it to thy neighbour, that is better then thee.

29. And also he that is the victory of Israel [i.e. The Lord who fighteth for Israel, and conquereth his enemy. Oth.the strength of Israel] lieth not, and repenteth him not: [see the annotat. On Gen.6.6.] for he is not a man, that he should repent (of anything)

30. Then he said, I have sinned, honour me now, I pray thee, before the Eldest [Or, in the preference of the Eldest] of my people, and before Israel: and turn again with me, that ye may worship the LORD thy God.

31. Then Samuel turned again after Saul: [viz. To honour the Kingly Dignity in the presence and repute of the people] and Saul worshipped the LORD.

32. Then said Samuel, Bring hither to me Agag the King of Amalekites: now Agag went unto him delicately; [Or, flately, delicately, tenderely. This may be understood of his and costly garments, which ( it may be) he put on, to come thus before the Prophet with aflatelt countenance] and Agag said, [i.e. thought with himself, or , he said this to his servants, or those that stood about him] Verily the bitterness of death is past. [As if he had said, I perceive now plainly that I shall not be put to death, as I hitherto feared, because I am brought before a Prophet, having escaped the hands of an armed King]

33. But Samuel said , According as thy sword berest women of their children, So shall thy mother be bereaved of her children among women: Then Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the face of the LORD at Gilgal. [See the like example in the prophet Elias, 1 King. 18. 40 & 2 King . 1. 10,11 These Prophets were moved hereunto by an inward motion and instinct of God; so that this may not be followed by every one, whose calling properly is not to use the sword of Justice]

34. Afterward Samuel went to Rama, and Saul went up to his house at Gibea of Saul.

35. And Samuel saw Saul no more [Oth: Visited Saul no more. Viz to instruct him concerning the government of the kingdom, or to ask counsel of God for him otherwise Samuel saw Saul unawares at Najoth in Rama, below chapter 19.24. Seeing for visiting, is likewise used 2 King. 8.29. and in other places more] until the day of his death, [the fame being likewise counted in with the rest; intimating that he never visited him again, or after that time] never the less Samuel mourned for Saul [Samuel mourned not for Saul all his life-time, but so long, until he was forbidden by God to do it, and he was commanded by God to anoint David King over Israel; as appeareth below chapter 16.1] and it repented the LORD, that he had made Saul King over Israel.