1 Samuel 15:22-32

Listen to 1 Samuel 15:22-32

22 Samuel said, "¹Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, ²to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

23 "For rebellion is as the sin of ³divination, And insubordination is as ⁴iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, ⁵He has also rejected you from being king."

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "⁶I have sinned; ⁷I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

25 "Now therefore, ⁸please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD."

26 But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for ⁹you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."

27 As Samuel turned to go, ¹⁰Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.

28 So Samuel said to him, "¹¹The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.

29 "Also the ¹²Glory of Israel ¹³will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind."

30 Then he said, "I have sinned; ¹⁴but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, ¹⁵that I may worship the LORD your God."

31 So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

32 Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."

Read Chapter Compare Translations

1 Samuel 15:22-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 15

In this chapter are recorded the order Saul had from the Lord to destroy Amalek utterly, 1Sa 15:1-3 the preparation he made to put it in execution, and the success thereof, 1Sa 15:4-9 the offence the Lord took at his not obeying his order thoroughly, with which Samuel was made acquainted, and which grieved him, 1Sa 15:10,11, upon which he went out to meet Saul, and reprove him; and a long discourse upon the subject passed between them, the issue of which was, that by an irrevocable decree he was rejected from being king, 1Sa 15:12-31 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Samuel's hewing in pieces Agag king of Amalek, and of his final departure from Saul, 1Sa 15:32-35.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Unlock Deeper Insights: Get Over 20 Commentaries with Plus! Subscribe Now