1 Samuel 15:26

26 But Samuel said to Saul, "I can't return with you because you have rejected what the LORD said, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."

1 Samuel 15:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 15:26

And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee
Not being satisfied with his repentance and confession, he still extenuating his sin, and laying the blame of it on the people. This he said by way of resentment, and as expressing his indignation at him, though he afterwards did return with him on a change of his mind; which a good man may be allowed to make, without any imputation of falsehood or a lie unto him:

for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected
thee from being king over Israel;
which is repeated from ( 1 Samuel 15:23 ) for the confirmation of it, and to let Saul know that his pretended confession and repentance had made no alteration in the decree and sentence of God respecting the kingdom.

1 Samuel 15:26 In-Context

24 Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned because I disobeyed the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the troops and obeyed them.

25 But now please forgive my sin! Come back with me, so I can worship the LORD."

26 But Samuel said to Saul, "I can't return with you because you have rejected what the LORD said, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."

27 Samuel turned to leave, but Saul grabbed at the edge of his robe, and it ripped.

28 Then Samuel told him, "The LORD has ripped the kingdom of Israel from you today. He will give it to a friend of yours, someone who is more worthy than you.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or won’t