1 Samuel 15

rael?. It is of great use for men to remember what they were: as Placilla the wife of Theodosius (Strigelius here observes) said to her husband,‘Atf <tc vpwriiKtt Aoyf&aSa/, tI ulv IjaSa 7rakat, tI ll yiyovdg vvv, &c. It behoves thee. always to think ivhat thou tvast heretofore, and ivhat thou art now. For calling these things to mind, thou wilt not be ungrateful to thy benefactor: but govern the kingdom thou hast received according to the laws; and by that means honour him that bestowed it upon thee*

1 Samuel 15:1

^SAMUEL also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hedrken unto the voice of the words of the Lord. Being so highly obliged to God, above all other men in the riation, it highly concerned him to bo very careful to observe his commands; especially having lately been disobedient, (xiii. 13.)

1 Samuel 15:2

Titus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that.which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. See my notes upon Deut. xxv. 17, 18.

1 Samuel 15:3

Now go, and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but stay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. This heavy sentence was pronounced against them long ago, (Exod. xvii. 14.) and renewed at their entrance into Canaan, with a charge not to forget it, (Deut. xxv.19.) land now ordered to be put in execution.;

1 Samuel 15:4

And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Teldim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. The word Telaim signifying lambs (which it is likely were very plentiful in this place), the Targum translates it, he numbered them by pasclial lambs: as if the Passover’was kept at this time. And so Rasi fancies that it being unlawful to number the people, he commanded every man to take a lamb out of the flock, and numbered them. But David Kimchi, and others, take this as we do, f for the name of a place called Telem, in the tribe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 24.) For there is no place mentioned in Scripture called Telaim; nor any so near it in sound as this. (See Seldcn, lib. iii. de Synedr. cap. 11. n. 5. and’Bochart’s Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 43.) I have often observed that their armies consisted of footmen, they having no horses in Judea. And in two regards they were more useful than horsemen, as Vegetius observes, (lib.ii. de Re Militari, cap. 1.) first, because “possunt ubiqueprodesse,” they may be serviceable every where, which horsemen cannot. And, secondly, a’great number of them, " sumptu et cxpensa minore nutritur," is maintained at less expense and charge.

1 Samuel 15:5

And Saul came to a city of Amalek. To the metropolis of the kingdom, whose name, perhaps, was Amalek. For so the words rriay^ be understood, he came to tlie city Amalek. And laid wait in the Valley.’] Or fought them in the valley, as we translate it in the margin: for they camo out to give him battle. 1 i II4.VW § WW I Wl f I AiJ/ CHAP- XV-] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. Ver/6. And Saul said to the Kenites.] Who were of the posterity of Jethro: some of which were of the tribe of Judah, others in Naphtali; and some, it seems, dwelt among the Amalekites in the rocky part of that country, (Numb. xxiv. 21.).*: Go, depart, get ye down.’] For they dwelt on high. From among the Amalekites, lest I destroy yoii with them.] For some of the Amalekites, it is likely, would flee to them for shelter. For you shewed kindness, to the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt.] Some of their ancestors did, which the Israelites did not forget, (Exod. xviii. 12. Numb. x. 31.) And the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.’] And went, it is likely, into the land of Judah.

1 Samuel 15:7

And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. That is, their whole country, of.which this was the extent; from Havilah in the north-east, to Shur in the south-west. These two, Havilah and Shur, are constantly opposed, as the most opposite terms of Arabia, as Bochartus hath observed, in his Phaleg. lib. iv. cap. 6.

1 Samuel 15:8

And Saul took Agag the king of the Amalekites \ alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the stvord. That is, all that could be met with:. but some fled, no doubt, as soon as, they saw him victorious; and. saved themselves in other countries. Accordingly we read of good numbers of this people afterward.

1 Samuel 15:9

But Saul and the people spared Agag. Whosoever proposed it, they all agreed in it, not to kill Agag: and Saul, it is most likely, was the chief author of this, counsel. Who, Sav/tacraQ to kcJAAoc kcu to fily&oc tov <twfiarog (as Josephus speaks), being struck with admiration of him as a very goodly and proper person, thought fit to, save him. Not following herein the command of God, but his own private fancy and affection, (lib. vi. Antiq. cap. 8.) Others think he intended to lead him in triumph. (See ver. 12.) And the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fat* lings, and of the lambs.’] Interpreters wonderfully vary about the sense of the word hamisnim, which we translate fallings: as may be seen in Bochartus’s Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 43. fol. 430. where he shews it signifies cattle in their full strength. All that was good.] Of their household goods (I suppose), apparel, and such-like things. And would not utterly destroy them.] As they had been commanded by God; but took them as a prey unto themselves. But every thing that was vile and refuse, that destroyed they utterly.] All that was not worth the keeping. Which is a wonderful instance of the baseness of human nature, when governed by covetousness, or any such-like affection.

1 Samuel 15:10

Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel saying.* Immediately before Saul returned from his expedition.

1 Samuel 15:11

It repenteth me that I have set np Saul to be king. Whom he resolved now to throw down from his throne. (See ver. 29.) For repentance in God, imports only the will of a change, and not of.every change, but of the Divine sentence pronounced, which the Scripture calls repentance. So Procopius Gazzcus> " Pcenitentia Dei, est dispensationis ipsius mutatio," God’s repentance is the change of his own dispensation. For he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandment. Andit grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.] Beseeching him to pardon Saul.

1 Samuel 15:12

And when Samuel rose up early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel. A city in the mountains of the tribe of Judah, where* Nabal dwelt, who is called the Carmelite, xxvii. 3. (See Josh. xv. 55.) And, behold, he set him up a place.] Either for the dividing of the spoil, as the Targum understands it; or marking out a camp, as Kimchi; or he erected a triumphal arch, as St. Jerome: having brought Agag with him, to make his triumph greater. Which arch, it may be thought, was in the form of a hand: for in the Hebrew the word’ we translate place is jad, which signifies a hand. Or, as Rasi will have it, he here built an altar: which Elijah in future times repaired, (1 Kings xviii. 30.) But this is a very gross mistake: for this Carmel was very remote from that mount which Elijah frequented, as Bochartus hath observed, (par. i. Hieroz. lib. ii. cap. 48.) It maybe rather thought, to be some building erected in the form beforementioned, to. signify that they overcame the Amalekites with a strong hand.,, Andis gone about, and passed on, and -gone down to Gilgal.] In, a long pomp, I suppose, as a mighty^ conqueror..

1 Samuel 15:13

And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said to him, Blessed be thou of the Lord. A form of salutation, wishing him all happiness from God: who had ordered him to undertake such a piece of service, -as he had donehim. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.] He was so insensible of any fault he had committed, that he boasts; of his performance.

1 Samuel 15:14

And Samuel said, What means then this bleats ing of the sheep, &c. Which he had commanded him utterly, to destroy, (ver. 3.)

1 Samuel 15:15

And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites. He lays the blame upon. the people, when it is evident he himself was principally in faul£, (ver. 9.) And the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we,’ have utterly destroyed.] This was a plausible pretence, it " being the custom all the world over, to give part of thcir^ spoils in war unto their gods; if. there had not been an express, command for destroying every thing in this war: so that nothing should be spared, cither for himself, or for*, them.

1 Samuel 15:16

And Samuel said unto Saul, Stay. This sounds as if Saul was going away: being abundantly, satisfied in * his noble achievements. And I will tell thee what the Lord hath said unto me this night.] When he cried to him without ceasing, (ver. 11.), Though Samuel was a prophet, saith Procopius Gazaeus, yet speaking to a king, he begs leave he may do it-freely.: And he said, Say on.] He hoped, it is likely, to hear him- - self commended for his piety.

1 Samuel 15:17

.Then Samuel said unto Said, JVhen thotiwast little in thy own sight, wast thou not made the headofthe. tribes of Israel, and, the I&rd ^anointed thee king over Is?

1 Samuel 15:18

And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said. Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amakelites. - He was employed in a very honourable expedition, to destroy the declared enemies of the Lord.;

1 Samuel 15:19

Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst flee upon the spoil. With great greediness, as a hungry bird or beast doth upon his prey. And didst evil in the sight of the Lord?] The command was as plain as words could make it: so that there was no reason but his own base covetousness, why it was not obeyed. r

1 Samuel 15:20

And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent vie, and have brought Agag the king of the Amalekites, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.’] A strange stupidity! to imagine such a partial obedience could be pleasing unto God.

1 Samuel 15:21

But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief things that should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. This was a mean tiling, to throw all.the blame on the people, whom he should have governed better: and it was worst of all, to let them pretend religion for their disobedience.

1 Samuel 15:22

And Samuel said, Uath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.] This most Divine admonition is inculcated by all following inspired writers, David, Solomon, and the prophets. (See Psal. 1. 13, 14. li. 16,17/ Eccles. v. 1. Isa. i. 11, 12, &c. Ixvi. 3. Jcr. vii. 21, 22, &c. llos. vi. 6. Micah vi. 6 — 8. Zach. viii. 16.) And some of the heathen have said excellent things to this purpose.

1 Samuel 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Or,* following after divination: which is opposed to prophecy, as idols are to God. * And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.] The words itven and teraphim signify all manner of idolatry. From" \vhich though Saul w r as free, yet his obstinate disobedience made him liable to such punishment as idolaters deserved.’ For as they were to be cut off, so ho was to be dethroned, as it here follows. *• Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he also hath rejected thee from being king.] As idolaters were to lose their lives, so he and his posterity lost the kingdom. And it is observable, that he was at last slain by the hand of an Amalekite, (2 Sam. i. 8.) •

1 Samuel 15:24

And Saul said zmto Samuel, I have sinned: for t have transgressed the commandment of the Lord,’ and thy. word; because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. It is not certain whether he led the people into this sin, or. they led him. Hook upon this only as an excuse (he having ho reason to fear the people, who were all at his command), and that he was not yet thoroughly sensible of his guilt.

1 Samuel 15:25

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin. By deprecating God’s displeasure. And turn again with me.] To Gilgal; from whence ho. came forth to meet Samuel. That I may worship the Lord.] And by Samuel’s prayers obtaina pardon. *■

1 Samuel 15:26

And Samuel said nnto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. The prophet looked upon God’s, sentence as peremptory; and therefore peremptorily denied his request. "

1 Samuel 15:27

And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle. It was a four-square garment covering the breast and the back; knit at the shoulder, but open on the sides, as Jo. Braunius hath shewn, lib. ii. do Vcstitu Sacerd. Hebr. cap. 5. n. 8. On this Saul laid hold, that he might stop Samuel from going away.. And it rent.] A sign the motion of Samuel was violent; he being full of indignation against Saul.

1 Samuel 15:28

And Samuel said, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it, to a’ neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. That casual rent, he took to be an apt representation of his destiny., >

1 Samuel 15:29

- And also the Strength of Israel. The word we translate Strength imports victory (as is observed in the margin), and therefore these words should be translated, He that gives victory, and disposes kingdoms, or the triumphant King of Israel. «, • Will not lie, nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent J] Sometimes, God js said to repent of the r evil, i* e. to alter his intentions of inflicting punishment. But in this case there was no room for it, because of the t oath of God, that Amalek should be cut off. This made Saul’s sin unpardonable; it being of the like nature (to use the words of Dr. Jackson) as if a judge or inferior. magistrate, being entrusted to do justice in a matter, unto which his sovereign lord had peremptorily and dcterminately sworn, should upon a bribe, or other sinister respect, neglect his duty, and (as much as in him lay) make his master forsworn. For an inferior judge to do this, deserves more bodily deaths than one. And therefore though God did repent that he had made Saul king (for he had the kingdom only by mere promise, not by a promise confirmed by ah oath), yet he would not repent his deposition, nor reverse the sentence against him; because, by his preposterous indulgence unto Amalek (God’s sworn enemy), he did by this fact incur the sentence of deposition by oath.. *,

1 Samuel 15:30

And he said, I have sinned. Now he makes a downright acknowledgment, of his guilt; without any al T leviations of it, from the fear he was in of the people, or any other thing, (ver. 24.) Yet honour me, I pray thee, before my people, and before Israel.] He submitted to the sentence, and only desired while he was king he might not lose his honour with those that waited on him, and with the rest of his subjects. And turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.] He speaks as if he thought, that, unless it were for Samuel’s sake, he was afraid God would not" regard him.!,

1 Samuel 15:31

And, Samuel turned again with Saul. He said before he would not: (ver! 26.) but upon his importunity (and ordered perhaps by God), he altered his mind. For f***wl vwvlt ciiap. xvi.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. he spake before only his present thoughts, which upon further reason he’ might change.’.; And Saul -worshipped the Lord.] In the company of Samuel, that the people might not despise his authority while he held it.

1 Samuel 15:32

Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither unto me Agag the king of the Amalekites. This he spake to the people, in the presence of Saul, that he might see what he ought to have done himself. And Agag came unto him delicately.] Or, walking in st&e; for thotigh he was at the point of death, saith *Kimchi, he could not forbear to’ come to Samuel in a haughty manner: but this word seems to relate to softness, rather than pride; and signifies that he came to him with a soft pace, treading gingerly (as we speak) after a nice and delicate manner. “’ * And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.] Being spared by Saul and his soldiers, he feared no hurt from a prophet..’.

1 Samuel 15:33

And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. This shews he had been a bloody tyrant, and was now cut oft’, not merely for the sins of his ancestors four hundred years ago, but for his own merciless cruelty. And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces.] He commanded it to be done by the public executioner of justice: or, perhaps, *did it himself. “(See Judg. viii. 20.) This doth not prove that Samuel continued a judge “after Saul was anointed”: but he was authorized to do this by a special command from God. Before the Lord in GilgaL] For here they had been.praying, and offering sacrifice: and God was present in all the great assemblies of his people. (See Judg. xx. 1.).

1 Samuel 15:34

Then Samuel went to Ramah. Where he com-.monly lived, (vii. ult.): * And Saul icent up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.] Which was the place of his birth, and constant abode, (x. 2G. xiv.2.)

1 Samuel 15:35

And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. He was wont, it is likely, to make him frequent visits: but now he forsook him, as a man abandoned by God.’’ r. • Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul.] Yet he had still: so much love to him, or to his country, as to lament the sad condition into which he was fallen. And the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.] In testimony whereof he utterly cast him off; and all Samuel’s tears could not procure a reversal of the sentence pronounced against him, •