Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary1 Samuel 15

The Amalekites DestroyedThis section describes a critical moment in Saul's leadership. God, through Samuel, gives Saul a specific command to completely destroy the Amalekites as punishment for their past sins against Israel. This task is a test of Saul's obedience, and how he responds will have significant consequences for his reign.v. 1: Samuel reminds Saul that the Lord

v. 2-3: God reminds Saul about an old conflict with the Amalekites. Long ago, the Amalekites attacked Israel when they were coming out of Egypt, hurting the weakest people. Now, God commands Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites. This means killing everyone - men, women, children, and even their animals. The command shows that God remembers and judges sins, even those committed generations earlier (Exodus 17:8-16; Exodus 17:8-16 , Deuteronomy 25:18; Deuteronomy 25:18 ).

v. 4-5: Saul gathers a large army of 200,000 soldiers. Interestingly, the soldiers from Judah are much fewer compared to other tribes. Saul brings his army to the Amalekite city, ready to attack. This shows that Saul was willing to follow God's command, at least in gathering his forces (1 Samuel 15:4-5; 1 Samuel 15:4-5 ).

v. 6: Before attacking, Saul warns the Kenites to leave the area. The Kenites were friends of Israel in the past, related to Moses' father-in-law. Saul shows kindness by giving them a chance to escape before the destruction. This demonstrates that even in judgment, God remembers those who have been good to His people (Numbers 24:21-22; Numbers 24:21-22 ).

v. 7-8: Saul defeats the Amalekites completely, just as God commanded. This was more like an execution than a battle, because God had already judged the Amalekites for their past sins. Saul kills almost everyone, showing the seriousness of God's judgment against those who harm His people (1 Samuel 15:7-8; 1 Samuel 15:7-8 ).

v. 9: However, Saul does not fully obey God. He spares King Agag and keeps the best animals, destroying only the weak and worthless ones. Saul seems more interested in keeping valuable things for himself than in completely following God's command. This partial obedience will have serious consequences for his kingdom (1 Samuel 15:9; 1 Samuel 15:9 ).

Samuel Reproves Saul; Saul Rejected by GodThis section recounts how Saul is confronted by Samuel for failing to obey God’s command to destroy the Amalekites completely. It highlights God’s justice, Saul’s disobedience, and Samuel’s grief over Saul’s rejection. The story teaches the importance of obedience to God over outward religious actions.v. 10-11: God tells Samuel that He regrets making Saul king because Saul has disobeyed Him. This does not mean that God changes His mind like humans do, but that His actions toward Saul now change because of Saul’s disobedience. God sees partial obedience as rebellion, and Saul’s greed led him to fail. Samuel is deeply grieved and spends the entire night praying and interceding for Saul. This shows Samuel’s care for Saul, even though Saul had failed (1 Samuel 15:10-11; 1 Samuel 15:10-11 ).

v. 12: Samuel goes to meet Saul, but he learns that Saul has set up a monument for himself in Carmel to celebrate the victory. Instead of humbling himself, Saul is focused on his own glory. Afterward, Saul goes to Gilgal, likely expecting to be praised for his actions. This behavior shows that Saul is more concerned about his reputation than obedience to God (1 Samuel 15:12; 1 Samuel 15:12 ).

v. 13-14: When Samuel meets Saul, Saul proudly claims that he has obeyed the Lord

v. 15: Saul tries to excuse himself by blaming the people for sparing the best animals, claiming they were kept to sacrifice to God. He shifts the blame instead of taking responsibility. This excuse reveals his hypocrisy, as it was likely his greed that influenced the decision. A good intention cannot justify disobedience to God (1 Samuel 15:15; 1 Samuel 15:15 ).

v. 16-19: Samuel reminds Saul of God’s kindness in making him king, even when Saul was insignificant. He recounts the clear command God gave to destroy the Amalekites completely and accuses Saul of disobeying by keeping the spoil for himself. Samuel highlights that Saul’s actions were driven by greed, not obedience (1 Samuel 15:16-19; 1 Samuel 15:16-19 ).

v. 20-21: Saul continues to defend himself, claiming he obeyed God by destroying the Amalekites and only spared the animals for sacrifice. He insists that the people were responsible for sparing the animals, but he avoids admitting his own fault. This shows how hard it is for some people to acknowledge their sin and take responsibility (1 Samuel 15:20-21; 1 Samuel 15:20-21 ).

v. 22-23: Samuel delivers a powerful response, teaching that obedience is better than sacrifice. God values humble and sincere obedience more than outward religious rituals. Disobedience is compared to rebellion, stubbornness, and even idolatry. Samuel declares that because Saul rejected God’s command, God has rejected Saul as king. This shows that disobedience is a serious sin, especially for leaders (1 Samuel 15:22-23; 1 Samuel 15:22-23 , Micah 6:6-8; Micah 6:6-8 ).

Saul’s Dethronement Foretold In this section, Saul finally admits his sin after being confronted by Samuel for not fully obeying God’s command concerning the Amalekites. However, his repentance is shallow and self-serving, showing more concern for his own reputation than for truly pleasing God. Samuel firmly rejects Saul’s plea, announces God’s unchanging decision, and uses a powerful symbol to show that Saul’s kingdom is now taken from him.v. 24: Saul confesses to Samuel, "I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord

v. 25: Saul asks Samuel, "Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord

v. 26: Samuel responds, "I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord

v. 27-29: As Samuel turns to leave, Saul grabs his robe, tearing it. Samuel uses this as a symbol to declare that God has torn the kingdom away from Saul and will give it to someone else. Samuel emphasizes that God does not change His mind like humans do. Once God’s judgment is given, it will stand (1 Samuel 15:27-29; 1 Samuel 15:27-29 ).

v. 28: Samuel says, "The Lord

v. 29: Samuel declares, "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent" . God’s will does not change like a human’s. His decision about Saul is firm and cannot be reversed.

v. 30-31: Saul pleads with Samuel to honor him before the people, even though he has been rejected by God. Samuel agrees to worship with Saul, not to honor Saul, but likely to avoid causing further public disorder. This shows Saul’s focus on appearances rather than true repentance (1 Samuel 15:30-31; 1 Samuel 15:30-31 ).

v. 31: Samuel finally agrees to go back with Saul, and Saul worships the Lord

Agag SlainIn this section, Samuel shows his authority as a prophet, carrying out God’s judgment when King Saul fails to obey completely. Samuel’s actions remind us that God’s commands must be taken seriously. Even kings are not above God’s justice.v. 32: Samuel calls for Agag, the king of the Amalekites, to be brought to him. Agag comes in a proud and calm way, thinking the danger is over. He says, “Surely the bitterness of death is past” . But Agag is wrong—he thinks he has escaped punishment, but he has not. Some people think the worst is behind them when they are actually still facing judgment. For true believers, though, the fear of death is taken away by faith (1 Corinthians 15:55 ).

v. 33: Samuel tells Agag that his past violence—making women childless by the sword—will now be punished. Samuel then puts Agag to death as God commanded. This action shows that evil deeds will be judged, and even powerful leaders must answer to God for their cruelty (1 Samuel 15:33; Matthew 23:36 ; Matthew 23:36; 2 Kings 24:4 ; 2 Kings 24:4 ).

v. 34-35: Samuel returns to Ramah, and Saul goes to Gibeah. Samuel never sees Saul again, but he mourns deeply for him, feeling sad that someone who had so much promise has ruined his future by disobeying God. The Lord