1 Samuel 15:32-35

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, ^[a] for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” ^[b]

33 But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.

35 And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 15:32-35 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Or cautiously or in chains; see DSS and LXX.
• [b] Or “Surely this is the bitterness of death.” See DSS and LXX.