1 Samuel
Chapter 15
Saul Is Rejected
Samuel told Saul: “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel. So now listen to what he has to say to you:
I will punish Amalek for having stood in the way of the Israelites when they were leaving Egypt.
Now attack Amalek and destroy completely all that he has. Do not spare them—man, woman, infant or suckling, ox or sheep, camel or ass.”
Saul called his men to Telaim and reviewed two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah.
He went to Amalek, set an ambush in the valley, and
proceeded to warn the Kenites: “Leave the Amalekites! I do not want to punish you with them since you showed kindness to the people of Israel when they left Egypt.” After the Kenites had left,
Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt.
He took Agag, king of the Amalekites, alive but put the rest of the people to the sword.
Saul and his men spared Agag and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, and lambs, and everything good, but destroyed all that was worthless.
Then the Lord spoke to Samuel:
“I feel sorry that I made Saul king because he has turned his back on me and has not kept my command.” Samuel was troubled and cried to the Lord all night.
Early next morning, he went looking for Saul but was told that Saul had set off for Carmel to erect a monument to himself and then had gone on his way to Gilgal.
When finally they met, Saul greeted Samuel: “May the Lord bless you,” and added, “I have done what the Lord told me to do.”
Samuel then asked him: “Why do I still hear the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen?”
Saul replied: “We have brought them from the Amalekites because the people spared the best sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord, your God. But the rest have been destroyed.”
?Samuel then told Saul: “Enough! Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Saul replied: “Please tell me.”
Samuel said:“Though you had no confidence in yourself, you became chief of the tribes of Israel, for the Lord wanted to anoint you king over Israel.
Then he sent you with this command, ‘Go. Completely crush the Amalekite offenders, engaging them in battle until they are destroyed.’
Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord but instead swooped down on the spoil, doing what was evil in his sight?”
To this, Saul replied: “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have carried out the mission for which he sent me. I captured Agag, king of the Amalekites, and destroyed them.
If my men spared the best sheep and oxen from among those to be destroyed, it was to sacrifice them to the Lord, your God, in Gilgal.”
Samuel then said:“Does the Lord take as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to his command? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than the fat of rams.
Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and stubbornness is like holding onto idols. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, he too has rejected you as king.”
Saul then told Samuel: “I have sinned in disobeying the Lord’s command and your instructions. I feared my own men, yet I obeyed them instead.
Please forgive my sin and return with me so I may worship the Lord.”
Samuel refused and said: “I will not return with you because you have rejected the word of the Lord, and he has rejected you as king of Israel.”
As Samuel turned to leave, Saul held onto the end of his robe, which tore.
Then, Samuel told Saul: “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to someone better than you.
The Glory of Israel does not change or repent as man does.”
Saul then said: “I have sinned. But please honor me now, before the elders of my people and before Israel. Return with me so that I may worship the Lord, your God.”
And Samuel returned with Saul, who went to worship the Lord.
Samuel said: “Bring me Agag, king of the Amalekites.” Agag stood before him with a cheerful face, thinking he was now out of danger.
But Samuel told him: “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” Then Samuel dealt a mortal blow to Agag before the Lord in Gilgal.
Samuel left for Ramah while Saul went home to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown.
From that day, Samuel did not see Saul again until he died, but he was grieving over Saul because the Lord regretted making him king of Israel.
Commentaries
Saul Is Rejected.
In this chapter, Samuel presents himself with prophetic authority, establishing the chapter’s parameters: the anointed one must follow God’s plans, not his own. It is easy to understand, then, Samuel’s verdict to Saul: “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord and he has rejected you” (26). However, the reason behind such a harsh judgment is unclear. Is it fair to wipe out an entire people, including women and children, for a crime committed centuries ago? In light of Christ’s teachings, Samuel’s command confuses and disgusts us. What can we say? The best we can do is this: the Lord chooses a people, with their customs and institutions, to lead them to higher levels of humanity gradually. The Lord of life, who does not simply abolish infant mortality or stop fatal accidents and natural disasters, temporarily accepts a warrior institution that causes the deaths of innocents. The sacred author turns this general acceptance into a specific, formal command through the story. Additionally, the fact that Saul did not eliminate the Amalekites is evident from their later presence: 27:8; 30:2 (cf. 1 Chr 4:43); although Amalek does disappear as an independent people. But let’s not hide our surprise or silence our protests.