ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Samuel 15

1 Sam 15:1–35 The Lord finally rejects Saul as king.

1 Sam 15:2 what Amalek did to Israel. The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe that inhabited the desert south of Judah (Num. 13:29). They attacked Israel at Rephidim (Ex. 17:8), and the Lord declared war on them (Ex. 17:14–16; Deut. 25:17–19). They joined other groups against Israel in Num. 14:41–45; Judg. 3:13; 6:3; 10:12. Later, they attacked David’s city of Ziklag (1 Samuel 30), and David subdued them in 2 Sam. 8:12.

1 Sam 15:3 devote to destruction. This usually meant that all living things—men, women, children, and livestock—were to be killed (see notes on Deut. 20:16–18; Josh. 6:17–18). This was done partly to protect Israel from the influence of paganism.

1 Sam 15:4 Although the army of Judah is mentioned separately (as also in 11:8), it seems that Judahites in general considered themselves part of the larger nation. Judah was near the Amalekites and must have been particularly affected by their raids (30:14).

1 Sam 15:6 Kenites. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was a Kenite (Judg. 1:16). He and his son had been helpful to the Israelites (Exodus 18; Num. 10:29–32). depart; . . . lest I destroy you with them. The Kenites had settled among the Amalekites. Saul’s action in this situation is admirable.

1 Sam 15:9 Spared is in sharp contrast to Samuel’s instructions (“Do not spare,” v. 3).

1 Sam 15:11 I regret (also vv. 29, 35). Here, as in Gen. 6:6, the Lord “regrets” something. This means that God feels genuine sorrow when contemplating Saul’s sin. It does not mean that God thinks his decision to make Saul king was a mistake in his plans for history (see Isa. 46:9–10). For more on divine regret, see note on 1 Sam. 15:29.

1 Sam 15:12 Carmel here is a town in Judah about 7 miles (11 km) south of Hebron. That Saul has gone there to set up a monument for himself raises further suspicions about his character.

1 Sam 15:15 Saul’s excuse for his disobedience (the people spared) contrasts with the facts (“Saul and the people spared,” v. 9). to sacrifice to the Lord your God. They were probably also planning to share in eating the sacrifices, contrary to the order for destruction (see note on v. 3).

1 Sam 15:17 Samuel reminds Saul here again (see v. 1) that the Lord anointed you king over Israel. Why should Saul, as God’s anointed, yield to the people’s opinion over God’s directions? He became king because the people asked for a king; now he is rejected because he listened to them (compare Prov. 29:25) rather than leading them to obey God.

1 Sam 15:20–21 I have obeyed . . . but the people. See note on v. 15.

1 Sam 15:22 The Lord himself does not need sacrifices like the gods of other religions. Rather, the people need to bring sacrifices in order to approach the holy God (see Leviticus 1–5). Even the best sacrifice without obedience gains nothing.

1 Sam 15:23 Rebellion (see 12:15) and presumption mean rejecting the Lord. The Hebrew word translated idolatry refers to either “household gods” (Gen. 31:19; Judg. 17:5; 1 Sam. 19:13) or “ancestor figurines” used as aids in divination (Ezek. 21:21; Hos. 3:4; Zech. 10:2). Saul is rejected as king here and also in 1 Sam. 15:26 (see 13:13–14).

1 Sam 15:24–26 Saul confesses, I have sinned. At least he admits the basic issue (I feared the people). Instead of being struck with the awfulness of his sin, Saul is more concerned with his reputation among the people (v. 30). the Lord has rejected you from being king. In 13:13, God rejected Saul’s dynasty. Here, Saul himself is rejected as king.

1 Sam 15:27 Saul seizes the skirt of Samuel’s robe as a final, humble plea for mercy.

1 Sam 15:28 The term this day is used in a legal sense: the rejection is final and has already taken effect (see Ruth 4:9–10; Ps. 2:7). In God’s sight, the kingdom has already been torn from Saul and given to someone else (past tense), though the actual act is yet to come.

1 Sam 15:29 Verses 11 and 35 say that God regretted making Saul king, while here Samuel denies that God will ever lie or have regret. The term for “have regret” can be translated “relent” or “change one’s mind” (e.g., Ex. 32:14; Num. 23:19; Ps. 106:45; Jonah 3:9–10) or “have pity or compassion” (Deut. 32:36; Judg. 2:18; Ps. 135:14) as well as “be sorry” or “have regret” (see Gen. 6:6–7). Thus the term as used in 1 Sam. 15:11, 35 describes God’s own feeling of sorrow that Saul had turned out as he did. In v. 29, God will not change his mind concerning a decision once he has made it. For further discussion of God’s “relenting” from sending good or disaster on a people, see note on Jonah 3:10.

1 Sam 15:30 honor me now. What Saul wants most is now clearly seen (see vv. 24–25).

1 Sam 15:31 Samuel chooses to stay with Saul. This could be because of concern for Saul personally (v. 35) or for the peace of the nation.

1 Sam 15:32–33 Bring here to me Agag. Samuel himself takes on the task that Saul failed to finish. Hacked . . . to pieces was not the normal means of putting to death. Usually slaying before the Lord involves sacrificing an animal (see Ex. 29:11; Lev. 1:5). In this case Agag himself is the sacrifice, justly put to death for his own sin (see note on 1 Sam. 15:3).

1 Sam 15:34 Ramah is only 2 miles (3.2 km) from Gibeah.

1 Sam 15:35 Formerly angry, Samuel now grieved over Saul. On the Lord regretted, see notes on vv. 11 and 29.