1 Samuel 15:23-33

23 "For rebellion is as the sin of ¹divination, And insubordination is as ²iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, ³He has also rejected you from being king."

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "⁴I have sinned; ⁵I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

25 "Now therefore, ⁶please 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 ⁷you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."

27 As Samuel turned to go, ⁸Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.

28 So Samuel said to him, "⁹The 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 ¹⁰Glory of Israel ¹¹will 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; ¹²but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, ¹³that 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."

33 But Samuel said, "¹⁴As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

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1 Samuel 15:23-33 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

Cross References 14

1. Deuteronomy 18:10
2. Genesis 31:19, 34
3. 1 Samuel 13:14
4. Numbers 22:34; 2 Samuel 12:13; Psalms 51:4
5. Proverbs 29:25; Isaiah 51:12, 13
6. Exodus 10:17
7. 1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 16:1
8. 1 Kings 11:30, 31
9. 1 Samuel 28:17, 18; 1 Kings 11:31
10. 1 Chronicles 29:11
11. Numbers 23:19; Ezekiel 24:14; Titus 1:2
12. John 5:44; John 12:43
13. Isaiah 29:13
14. Genesis 9:6; Judges 1:7; Matthew 7:2

Footnotes 3

[a]. Lit "mouth"
[b]. Or "Eminence"
[c]. Or "in bonds"