1 Samuel 28:18

18 Because you didn't obey the voice of the LORD, and didn't execute his fierce wrath on `Amalek, therefore has the LORD done this thing to you this day.

1 Samuel 28:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 28:18

Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord
At Gilgal, as Abarbinel thinks; which is the first thing for which the kingdom was threatened to be taken from him, ( 1 Samuel 13:13 1 Samuel 13:14 ) ;

nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek:
in sparing Agag, and the best of the cattle, ( 1 Samuel 15:9 1 Samuel 15:28 ) ;

therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day;
forsaken him, rent his kingdom from him, and would deliver him into the hands of the Philistines, as follows: had he been the true Samuel, he would have told him of some other sins of his, provoking to the Lord; as his slaughter of the priests at Nob, his cruel persecution of David, and especially of his asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit at this time, of which not a word is said, and yet was the very transgression for which Saul died, ( 1 Chronicles 10:13 1 Chronicles 10:14 ) .

1 Samuel 28:18 In-Context

16 Shemu'el said, Why then do you ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from you, and is become your adversary?
17 The LORD has done to you, as he spoke by me: and the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.
18 Because you didn't obey the voice of the LORD, and didn't execute his fierce wrath on `Amalek, therefore has the LORD done this thing to you this day.
19 Moreover the LORD will deliver Yisra'el also with you into the hand of the Pelishtim; and tomorrow shall you and your sons be with me: the LORD will deliver the host of Yisra'el also into the hand of the Pelishtim.
20 Then Sha'ul fell immediately his full length on the eretz, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Shemu'el: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.