1 Samuel 15

Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin

1 Samuel 15

Wiersbe comments that "Saul had substituted saying for doing (1Sa 15:13); excuses for confessions (1Sa 15:15,21); and sacrifice for obedience (1Sa 15:22). He was too quick to criticize and blame others; he was unwilling to face and judge his own sins. (Borrow Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament) (Brian Bell picks up on Wiersbe - Saul had a habit of substituting saying for doing; of making excuses instead of confessing sins; more concerned about looking good before the people than being good before God. God’s orders were clear, but Saul’s motives were mixed.) Rod Mattoon - Saul will not admit he is wrong. He still claims he is obedient. Partial obedience, however, is not obedience at all! The pressure is on. Saul has been caught. The excuses continue to flow as Saul continues the blame game. He blubbers, “The people took the spoil.… they did it!” Beloved, revival comes in our life when we take responsibility for our actions and look at our sin the way God does. Saul was good at making excuses. Billy Sunday said, “Excuses are the skin of reason stuffed with lies.” Saul has blamed Samuel, Jonathan, and now the people for his disobedience and problems. What do people blame today for their problems? The list usually includes parents, pastors, principles, teachers, bosses, the President, the church, the school, the environment, etc. Beloved, watch out for people who always make excuses for their problems. These folks refuse to be honest and accept responsibility for their actions. If you are not careful, you may be on the brunt end of their irresponsibility or you may be blamed one day for their problems. Solomon warned, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Saul was guilty of doing this and he paid a price for it. The next swap that Saul makes in this passage is he replaces sacrifice for obedience. Saul claims the spoils are for a sacrifice to the Lord. God’s response is He wants our obedience, not our sacrifices. When David sinned against God he said, “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:16, 17). Saul’s problem is he did not have a broken heart at all. His heart was filled with rebellion which God considered to be like witchcraft. The result of his rebellion was rejection from being king. God was stressing that sacrifice can never replace surrender. We can never know success as long as we live on substitutes in our life. What do people today sacrifice in their obedience to the Lord? Some folks may sacrifice time, money, or work at the church, but these sacrifices do not compensate disobedience in our own lives. God wants absolute surrender in our life. He wants us! (1 Samuel Commentary - RECOMMENDED - 616 pages - Go to page for list of multiple illustrations on page 596)” Brian Bell - Is there a king Agag in your life? Something God has prompted you to eradicate from your life that you haven’t dealt with yet? (something you need to hack to pieces? Or, shake in the fire?) Someone that God has shown you isn’t healthy for your relationship w/him? Some-thought that God continues to remind you to take captive & not allow it to run amok down the alleys of your mind? Is there a king Agag in your life? 1 Samuel 15:21 "But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal." BGT 1 Samuel 15:21 καὶ ἔλαβεν ὁ λαὸς τῶν σκύλων ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια τὰ πρῶτα τοῦ ἐξολεθρεύματος θῦσαι ἐνώπιον κυρίου θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐν Γαλγαλοις LXE 1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the spoils the best flocks and herds out of that which was destroyed, to sacrifice before the Lord our God in Galgal. KJV 1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. NET 1 Samuel 15:21 But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle– the best of what was to be slaughtered– to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." CSB 1 Samuel 15:21 The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder-- the best of what was set apart for destruction-- to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal." ESV 1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." NIV 1 Samuel 15:21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal." NLT 1 Samuel 15:21 Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." NRS 1 Samuel 15:21 But from the spoil the people took sheep and cattle, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." NJB 1 Samuel 15:21 and from the booty the people have taken the best sheep and cattle of what was under the curse of destruction only to sacrifice them to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.' NAB 1 Samuel 15:21 But from the spoil the men took sheep and oxen, the best of what had been banned, to sacrifice to the LORD their God in Gilgal." YLT 1 Samuel 15:21 and the people taketh of the spoil of the flock and herd, the first part of the devoted thing, for sacrifice to Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.' the people: 1Sa 15:15 Ge 3:13 Ex 32:22,23 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAUL "PASSES THE BUCK!" To pass the buck is to attempt to shift the blame or the responsibility for something (especially something wrong) to another party. The corollary thought is that the person passing the buck is refusing to take responsibility for the miscue. But - Term of contrast. Saul contrasts the peoples' disobedience with his fantasized "obedience" in the previous passage. The people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal - Saul is caught "red handed" (disobeyed God's clear command for total destruction), but he attempt a "sleight of hand," trying to blame the people for committing evil in the sight of the LORD! On your God see preceding note. 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. BGT 1 Samuel 15:22 καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ εἰ θελητὸν τῷ κυρίῳ ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίαι ὡς τὸ ἀκοῦσαι φωνῆς κυρίου ἰδοὺ ἀκοὴ ὑπὲρ θυσίαν ἀγαθὴ καὶ ἡ ἐπακρόασις ὑπὲρ στέαρ κριῶν LXE 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Does the Lord take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in hearing the words of the Lord? behold, obedience is better than a good sacrifice, and hearkening than the fat of rams. KJV 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. NET 1 Samuel 15:22 Then Samuel said, "Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams. CSB 1 Samuel 15:22 Then Samuel said: Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. ESV 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. NIV 1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. NLT 1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. NRS 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. NJB 1 Samuel 15:22 To which, Samuel said: Is Yahweh pleased by burnt offerings and sacrifices or by obedience to Yahweh's voice? Truly, obedience is better than sacrifice, submissiveness than the fat of rams. NAB 1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel said: "Does the LORD so delight in holocausts and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the LORD? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams. YLT 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel saith, 'Hath Jehovah had delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? lo, hearkening than sacrifice is better; to give attention than fat of rams; Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings: Ps 50:8-9 Ps 51:16,17 Pr 21:3 Isa 1:11-17 Jer 7:22-23 Ho 6:6 Am 5:21-24 Mic 6:6-8 Mt 9:13 12:7 23:23 Heb 10:4-10 obey: Ex 19:5 Ec 5:1 Jer 7:23 11:4,7 26:13 Ho 6:6 Mt 5:24 Mk 12:33 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: TAKE A MOMENT TO PRAYERFULLY, MEDITATIVELY READ THROUGH THESE PASSAGES... Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice. Isaiah 1:11-17 “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies– I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Jeremiah 7:22-23 “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Amos 5:21-24 “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 22“ Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. 23 “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. 24 “But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Hosea 6:6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. WHICH IS THE BEST? SACRIFICE OR OBEDIENCE? Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying (shama; Lxx = akouo) the voice of the LORD? - Samuel leads with a rhetorical question. He does not correct Saul's attempt to blame the people, but addresses his rationalization as to why they did it for Yahweh, to offer sacrifices to Him. The Lord wants living obedience from the heart, not dead animals on the altar. -- Brian Bell Behold (hinneh; Lxx - idou) to obey (shama; Lxx = akoe = act of hearing) is better than sacrifice, and to heed (qashab; Lxx = epakroasis = hearkening, obedience - only use in Bible) than the fat of rams - Samuel does not wait for another (most likely) lame reply from Saul, but answers his question beginning with a behold to make sure Saul hears it! Then Samuel "doubles down" on the idea of obedience, using two Hebrew verbs, obey and heed. The upshot is that the answer to Samuel's rhetorical question is that obedience is the only 'sacrifice' that truly pleases the LORD. Remember that shama is a key verb/word in this chapter - 8x in 7v - 1Sa 15:1, 4, 14, 19, 20, 22, 24. Bob Roe - Since in the Old Testament God himself ordained the sacrifice, why would Samuel say, "to obey is better than sacrifice?" What are you sacrificing when you obey God that you are not sacrificing when you sacrifice an animal? Self. I give up my rights to my actions, to my person, to my thought processes. Here are these goodly animals. They would make a great sacrifice. But, if I bring them into the nation of Israel, I am questioning God. However, if I don't bring them in, I am sacrificing me, my will, my rights, my thought processes. Brian Bell - The Lord wants living obedience from the heart, not dead animals on the altar. Samuel wasn’t belittling sacrifices, but pointing out that the condition of the heart determines the value of the sacrifice!!! He accepts the worship only if He can accept the worshipper! Sacrifice w/o obedience is only hypocrisy & empty religious ritual. The religious leaders in Jesus’ day didn’t understand this truth either. Neither does Churchianity today! We as believers today still face a constant temptation to substitute religious ritual for spiritual reality! What is ritual w/o obedience? What is outward religious observance that masks inner disobedience? Have God’s requirements changed in our day? Nope! One is reminded of the contrite, repentant words of David in Psalm 51:16-17+ 'For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Micah asks With what shall I come to the LORD And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? 7 Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8+)

1 Samuel 15

Wiersbe writes that "God would give Saul one more chance to prove himself, this time by utterly destroying Israel’s old enemies, the Amalekites (Deut. 25:17–19; Ex. 17:16)." (Borrow Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament) Samuel - Recall Samuel has been out of the picture since the end of 1Sa 13:15+ "Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men." said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel - First anointing was private (1Sa 10:1) and the second was public (1Sa 10:24). It is notable that you never find Saul speaking to God, but only to God's man, the man of God, Samuel. Saul seemed to have forgotten Who had put him into office. Why this reminder from Samuel? Saul needed to remember that God had sovereignly established him as king and he was not king because he had inherited or merited the title! And He had used His prophet Samuel to anoint him. This reminder would add weight and authority to what Samuel was getting ready to say to Saul. now therefore - Since you are the anointed king over Israel Samuel has a word from the LORD. Listen (shama - obey; Lxx = akouo) to the words of the LORD - KJV has "hearken" which means to listen attentively to, to heed with the implication that one obeys what they hear. The command to listen is equivalent to a command to obey! Note then that Samuel is not giving Saul a "good suggestion" but an absolute command Saul is to obey, a command he goes on to explain in the following passages. Note that shama is a key verb/word in this chapter - 8x in 7v - 1Sa 15:1, 4, 14, 19, 20, 22, 24. And note that in 1Sa 15: 19, 20, 22 shama is translated obey. 1 Samuel 15:2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. BGT 1 Samuel 15:2 τάδε εἶπεν κύριος σαβαωθ νῦν ἐκδικήσω ἃ ἐποίησεν Αμαληκ τῷ Ισραηλ ὡς ἀπήντησεν αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἀναβαίνοντος αὐτοῦ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου LXE 1 Samuel 15:2 Thus said the Lord of hosts, Now will I take vengeance for what Amalec did to Israel, when he met him in the way as he came up out of Egypt. KJV 1 Samuel 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. NET 1 Samuel 15:2 Here is what the LORD of hosts says: 'I carefully observed how the Amalekites opposed Israel along the way when Israel came up from Egypt. CSB 1 Samuel 15:2 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt. ESV 1 Samuel 15:2 Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. NIV 1 Samuel 15:2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. NLT 1 Samuel 15:2 This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. NRS 1 Samuel 15:2 Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did in opposing the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. NJB 1 Samuel 15:2 This is what Yahweh Sabaoth says, "I intend to punish what Amalek did to Israel -- laying a trap for him on the way as he was coming up from Egypt. NAB 1 Samuel 15:2 This is what the LORD of hosts has to say: 'I will punish what Amalek did to Israel when he barred his way as he was coming up from Egypt. YLT 1 Samuel 15:2 'Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, I have looked after that which Amalek did to Israel, that which he laid for him in the way in his going up out of Egypt. RSV 1 Samuel 15:2 Thus says the LORD of hosts, `I will punish what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way, when they came up out of Egypt. I will punish: Jer 31:34 Ho 7:2 Am 8:7 Amalek: Ex 17:8-16 Nu 24:20 De 25:17-19 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 17:8-16+ Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner; 16 and he said, “The LORD has sworn; the LORD will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.” Numbers 24:20 And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction.” Judges 6:3-5 For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the sons of the east and go against them. 4 So they would camp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it. Joshua Fighting Amalekites in Exodus 17 DIVINE RETRIBUTION FOR AMALEK Thus says the LORD of hosts - Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts (of armies) NLT = "the LORD of Heaven's Armies" This is the first use of LORD of hosts since 1Sa 4:4, recalling that the first use in Scripture was in 1Sa 1:3, 11. Among other things, the LORD of hosts teaches that God reigns and rules over nations, including wicked nations, which gives Him the right to make the following prophetic statements. 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel - NLT = "I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek" It is payday for the Amalekites. Their "bill" is due. Yahweh desires for Amalek to be an illustration of Galatians 6:7 that the "one who sows to the flesh (Amalek is used by many writers as a picture of the flesh) shall from the flesh reap corruption." THOUGHT - Notice that God states "I will" indicating that He is the ultimate Punisher, even though He sometimes uses human instruments. This vital principle permeates the passages of the Bible - God's part, our part. See the "Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible" (100/100) If Saul had been a man of the book and would have kept the instructions to the king in Deuteronomy 17:18-20+, he would already have known Exodus 17:14+ "Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” The commands from God through His prophet Samuel would then simply have been a reminder that he was the one given the privilege of blotting out the Amalekites who had so viciously inflicted Israel for over 400 years (not just the attacks in Exodus!) THOUGHT - This begs the question - are you a man or woman of one Book? If not that you are spiritually malnourished and in need of a revitalizing, reviving (Ps 119:25+, Ps 19:7ESV+ "reviving") infusion of the pure milk of the Word, that by it you might grow in respect to salvation (aka "progressive sanctification" - 1Pe 2:2+). Are you growing in Christ (2Pe 3:18+) or just growing older. Beloved, forget about "New Year's Resolutions!" Instead make a "New Day's Resolution!" and make it EVERY DAY because your enemies are incessantly (daily) strategizing and attacking your soul! (1Pe 2:11+) Eat the Book (Heb 5:14+, Jer 15:16+), drink the Book (1Pe 2:2+), live the Book (Dt 32:47+, John 6:63, Php 2:16+, 1Jn 1:1+), share the Book with the lost (Ro 1:16+, 1Pe 3:15+) that they too might have life in Christ (Col 3:4+)! Don't procrastinate or prevaricate or put off! Today is the day to resolve to be a man or woman of one Book! Don't be like King Saul, who missed the opportunity of a lifetime to reign as more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus our soon coming King of kings. Amen! A T Pierson said that "While other books inform, and some few reform, this ONE BOOK transforms." how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt - NJB = "laying a trap for him on the way" God had not forgotten Amalek's sins against Israel committed almost 400 years earlier. God had promised to destroy the Amalekites initially in about 1446 B.C., near the date of the Exodus. Now He is calling for fulfillment of this promise in about 1010 B.C. There is a principle here that just because sin is not punished immediately, does not mean God has forgotten and it will not be punished eventually. The "mills of God turn slowly but surely." Deuteronomy 25:17-19+ “Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, 18 how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God. 19 “Therefore it shall come about when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget. Amalekite (06002)(Amaleq) - 39x in 37v - Amalek(25), Amalekites(14). QUESTION - Who were the Amalekites? ANSWER - The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan, between Mount Seir and the Egyptian border. The Amalekites are not listed in the table of nations in Genesis 10, as they did not originate until after Esau’s time. In Numbers 24:20 Balaam refers to the Amalekites as “first among the nations,” but he most likely meant only that the Amalekites were the first ones to attack the Israelites upon their exodus from Egypt or that the Amalekites were “first” in power at that time. Genesis 36 refers to the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau, as Amalekites (verses 12 and 16). So, the Amalekites were somehow related to, but distinct from, the Edomites. Scripture records the long-lasting feud between the Amalekites and the Israelites and God’s direction to wipe the Amalekites off the face of the earth (Exodus 17:8–13; 1 Samuel 15:2; Deuteronomy 25:17). Why God would call His people to exterminate an entire tribe is a difficult question, but a look at history may give some insight. Like many desert tribes, the Amalekites were nomadic. Numbers 13:29 places them as native to the Negev, the desert between Egypt and Canaan. The Babylonians called them the Sute, Egyptians the Sittiu, and the Amarna tablets refer to them as the Khabbati, or “plunderers.” The Amalekites’ unrelenting brutality toward the Israelites began with an attack at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8–13). This is recounted in Deuteronomy 25:17–19 with this admonition: “Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind [typically women and children]: they had no fear of God. When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!” The Amalekites later joined with the Canaanites and attacked the Israelites at Hormah (Numbers 14:45). In Judges they banded with the Moabites (Judges 3:13) and the Midianites (Judges 6:3) to wage war on the Israelites. They were responsible for the repeated destruction of the Israelites’ land and food supply. In 1 Samuel 15:2–3, God tells King Saul, “I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them, put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” In response, King Saul first warns the Kenites, friends of Israel, to leave the area. He then attacks the Amalekites but does not complete the task. He allows the Amalekite King Agag to live, takes plunder for himself and his army, and lies about the reason for doing so. Saul’s rebellion against God and His commands is so serious that he is rejected by God as king (1 Samuel 15:23). The escaped Amalekites continued to harass and plunder the Israelites in successive generations that spanned hundreds of years. 1 Samuel 30 reports an Amalekite raid on Ziklag, a Judean village where David held property. The Amalekites burned the village and took captive all the women and children, including two of David’s wives. David and his men defeated the Amalekites and rescued all the hostages. A few hundred Amalekites escaped, however. Much later, during the reign of King Hezekiah, a group of Simeonites “killed the remaining Amalekites” who had been living in the hill country of Seir (1 Chronicles 4:42–43). The last mention of the Amalekites is found in the book of Esther where Haman the Agagite, a descendant of the Amalekite king Agag, connives to have all the Jews in Persia annihilated by order of King Xerxes. God saved the Jews in Persia, however, and Haman, his sons, and the rest of Israel’s enemies were destroyed instead (Esther 9:5–10).' The Amalekites’ hatred of the Jews and their repeated attempts to destroy God’s people led to their ultimate doom. Their fate should be a warning to all who would attempt to thwart God’s plan or who would curse what God has blessed (see Genesis 12:3). GotQuestions.org 1 Samuel 15:3 'Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" BGT 1 Samuel 15:3 καὶ νῦν πορεύου καὶ πατάξεις τὸν Αμαληκ καὶ Ιεριμ καὶ πάντα τὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ περιποιήσῃ ἐξ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξολεθρεύσεις αὐτὸν καὶ ἀναθεματιεῖς αὐτὸν καὶ πάντα τὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ φείσῃ ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀποκτενεῖς ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς καὶ ἕως γυναικὸς καὶ ἀπὸ νηπίου ἕως θηλάζοντος καὶ ἀπὸ μόσχου ἕως προβάτου καὶ ἀπὸ καμήλου ἕως ὄνου LXE 1 Samuel 15:3 And now go, and thou shalt smite Amalec and Hierim and all that belongs to him, and thou shalt not save anything of him alive, but thou shalt utterly destroy him: and thou shalt devote him and all his to destruction, and thou shalt spare nothing belonging to him; and thou shalt slay both man and woman, and infant and suckling, and calf and sheep, and camel and ass. KJV 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. NET 1 Samuel 15:3 So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don't spare them. Put them to death– man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.'" CSB 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.'" ESV 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" NIV 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.' " NLT 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation-- men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys." NRS 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" NJB 1 Samuel 15:3 Now, go and crush Amalek; put him under the curse of destruction with all that he possesses. Do not spare him, but kill man and woman, babe and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." ' NAB 1 Samuel 15:3 Go, now, attack Amalek, and deal with him and all that he has under the ban. Do not spare him, but kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and asses.'" YLT 1 Samuel 15:3 Now, go, and thou hast smitten Amalek, and devoted all that it hath, and thou hast no pity on it, and hast put to death from man unto woman, from infant unto suckling, from ox unto sheep, from camel unto ass.' utterly destroy: Lev 27:28-29 Nu 24:20 Dt 13:15-16 Dt 20:16-18 Jos 6:17-21 put to death: Ex 20:5 Nu 31:17 Isa 14:21,22 ox and sheep: Ge 3:17,18 Ro 8:20-22 Related Passages: Exodus 17:14+ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Numbers 24:20 And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction.” Deuteronomy 13:15-16 you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it and its cattle with the edge of the sword. 16“Then you shall gather all its booty into the middle of its open square and burn the city and all its booty with fire as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God; and it shall be a ruin forever. It shall never be rebuilt. Deuteronomy 20:16-18 “Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes. 17 “But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you (A COMMAND ISRAEL LARGELY DISOBEYED TO THEIR CHAGRIN!), 18 so that (TERM OF PURPOSE) they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods (AKA "IDOLATRY"), so that you would sin against the LORD your God (BREAKING THE FIRST COMMANDMENT - NO OTHER GODS!). DESTROY AMALEK! CLEAR INSTRUCTION FOR UTTER DESTRUCTION! Now - This describes God's timing for the destruction of Amalek. This would also be a test on Saul to see if he would obey. One might ask "When is 'now'?" While we cannot be dogmatic this is probably some 20 years into Saul's reign (Jonathan is a grown man) and he has been victorious over the surrounding nations (1Sa 14:47). 1Sa 14:48 would seem to describe the events of chapter 15, for he did defeat Amalek, albeit he failed to utterly destroy them. Go and strike (nāḵāh; Lxx = patasso - strike a blow against) Amalek and utterly destroy (charam; Lxx = exolethreuo) all that he has - Note Samuel says that Saul is to "go and strike Amalek," whereas in verse 2 He had said "I will punish Amalek." At times God acts without man as in the global flood or destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but this time He would act in concert with man. God in His sovereignty mysteriously interacts with men's (Saul's) responsibility and, as we see, He will hold Saul responsible! Amalek's wages for their sins against Israel was death (Dt 25:17-19+). God calls for genocide of the Amalekite people group! This recalls God's words to Abram in Genesis 15:16+ "the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete" indicating that God is longsuffering not wanting for any to perish but for all peoples to come to repentance. For the Amalekites, God says in essence "Time's up! Time to meet your Maker!" As a side note a key verb/word in this chapter is utterly destroy (charam) - 1Sa 15:3; 1Sa 15:8; 1Sa 15:9; 1Sa 15:15; 1Sa 15:18; 1Sa 15:20. For a more in depth discussion of God's command to utterly destroy which to some seems harsh and unfair see the Comments attached to Deuteronomy 7:2. Utterly destroy is literally “to put under a ban,” as at Jericho at (Josh. 6:17, 18) and meant it was all "devoted" to God. No spoil was to be taken. And do not spare him; but (term of contrast - reverses direction of thought, in this case dramatically) put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey - CEV = “don’t take pity on” While God does not stutter, He does repeat 4 times (strike, utter destroy, do not spare, put to death) His job for Saul. God's instruction is crystal clear to the one who has an ear to hear and a heart to obey. Meyer on does God still judge nations - “But we cannot suppose, for a single moment, that the judgment of the nations is to be altogether relegated [appointed] to that final day. Throughout the history of the world the nations have been standing before Christ’s bar. Nineveh stood there, Babylon stood there, Greece and Rome stood there, Spain and France stood there, and Great Britain is standing there to-day. One after another has had the solemn word—depart, and they have passed into a destruction which has been absolute and terrible.”

1 Samuel 15

Wiersbe - True confession involves more than saying “I have sinned”; it means repentance and true sorrow for sin. (Borrow Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament) Rod Mattoon - Saul is rebuked by Samuel and is informed he has been rejected by the Lord. THEN Saul says, “I have sinned.” Saul makes another switch, replacing his reputation for his character. Twice Saul states, “I have sinned.” The sincerity of this man is in question because true sorrow is expressed before you get caught. Saul only seems concerned about what everyone thinks about him instead of his inward character. It was Abe Lincoln who said, “Reputation and character can be compared to a tree. Character is the tree and reputation is the shadow cast by the tree.” In other words your character will determine your reputation. Reputation is what people think we are and character is what God knows we are. D.L. Moody said, “Character is what a person is in the dark when no one is watching.” Saul was absolutely consumed with what people thought of him. He was very weak in godly character. Beloved, don’t make Saul’s mistake. If you start living to please people you are going to be in trouble. If you are consumed with you reputation, you will start doing what Saul did and cut corners and make excuses. You will be caught between what God thinks and what people think and that is a very frustrating place to be. Solomon warned, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25) What should be of premium importance to us is personal integrity (1 Samuel Commentary - RECOMMENDED - 616 pages - Go to page for list of multiple illustrations on page 596)” How would you describe your character? How would you evaluate your reputation? Do they match? John