Thematic Bible




1 Samuel 15:1 (show verse)

Samuel told Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the Lord.

1 Samuel 15:2 (show verse)

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.

1 Samuel 15:3 (show verse)

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.’”

1 Samuel 15:4 (show verse)

Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah.

1 Samuel 15:5 (show verse)

Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.

1 Samuel 15:6 (show verse)

He warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.

1 Samuel 15:7 (show verse)

Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:8 (show verse)

He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.

1 Samuel 15:9 (show verse)

Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

1 Samuel 15:10 (show verse)

Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel,

1 Samuel 15:11 (show verse)

“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.

1 Samuel 15:12 (show verse)

Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.”

1 Samuel 15:13 (show verse)

When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May the Lord bless you. I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”

1 Samuel 15:14 (show verse)

Samuel replied, “Then what is this sound of sheep and cattle I hear?”

1 Samuel 15:15 (show verse)

Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we destroyed.”

1 Samuel 15:16 (show verse)

“Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” he replied.

1 Samuel 15:17 (show verse)

Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant, have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel

1 Samuel 15:18 (show verse)

and then sent you on a mission and said: ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.’

1 Samuel 15:19 (show verse)

So why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”

1 Samuel 15:20 (show verse)

“But I did obey the Lord!” Saul answered. “I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites.

1 Samuel 15:21 (show verse)

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.”

1 Samuel 15:22 (show verse)

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.
Amalekites » Defeated by saul
Amalekites, the » saul » Condemned for not utterly destroying
the Burnt offering » Obedience better than
Christian ministers » Expostulate with rulers » Samuel with saul
Church and state » Ecclesiastical power superior to civil » Reproves rulers
Delight » What the lord delights in
Delight » What the lord does not delight in
Desires » What the lord desires
Desires » What the lord does not desire
Falsehood » Instances of » Saul, in professing to samuel to have obeyed the commandment to destroy all spoils of the amalekites, when in fact he had not obeyed
Formalism » The insufficiency of
Gilgal » Place of the first encampment of the israelites west of the jordan river » An altar built at, and sacrifice offered
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Obedience » The obeying of the lord
Obedience » To God, the duty of » Better than sacrifice
Obedience to God » Better than sacrifice
Offerings » Useless when not accompanied by genuine piety
Offerings » Withheld see offerings; withheld » Insufficient to secure salvation
Presumption » Instances of » Sparing the amalekites
Religion » Formalism » The insufficiency of
Repentance » Instances of » Saul, at the rebuke of samuel for not destroying the amalekites
Reproof » Faithfulness in » Samuel, of saul
Requirements » What the lord does not require
Rulers' » Wicked » Instances of » Saul, sparing agag and the best of the booty
Sacrifice » What is better than sacrifice
Sacrifices » Insufficient to secure salvation
Sacrifices » Generally the best of their kind
Sacrifices » Without obedience, worthless
samuel » Life summarized » Courageous
saul » King of israel » Dedicates the spoils of war
Saul, king of israel » The man who lost a crown characteristics of » Disobedience
Self-righteousness » Instances of » saul
Self-will » Exemplified » King saul
Self-will and stubbornness » Exemplified » saul
Service » Test » King saul was condemned by it
Sheep » Males of, called rams

1 Samuel 15:23 (show verse)

For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has rejected you as king.
Amalekites » Defeated by saul
Amalekites, the » saul » Condemned for not utterly destroying
Christian ministers » Expostulate with rulers » Samuel with saul
Church and state » Ecclesiastical power superior to civil » Reproves rulers
Divination » An abominable practice
Falsehood » Instances of » Saul, in professing to samuel to have obeyed the commandment to destroy all spoils of the amalekites, when in fact he had not obeyed
Gilgal » Place of the first encampment of the israelites west of the jordan river » An altar built at, and sacrifice offered
Idolatry » What is idolatry
Iniquity » What is as iniquity
Judgments » Upon individuals--exemplified » saul
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Presumption » Instances of » Sparing the amalekites
Punishment of the The Wicked » On account of their » Rejection of the law of God
Rebellion » Against God, condemned
Rebellion » What rebellion is
Rebellion against God » Exemplified » saul
Rebellion against God » Exhibited in » Rejecting his government
Rebellion against God » Heinousness of
Rejected » Christ » The wicked, by God
Rejection » The reward for rejecting the lord
Repentance » Instances of » Saul, at the rebuke of samuel for not destroying the amalekites
Reprobacy » Instances of » saul
Reproof » Faithfulness in » Samuel, of saul
Rulers' » Wicked » Instances of » Saul, sparing agag and the best of the booty
samuel » Life summarized » Courageous
saul » King of israel » Dedicates the spoils of war
Saul, king of israel » The man who lost a crown characteristics of » Disobedience
Self-righteousness » Instances of » saul
Self-will » Exemplified » King saul
Self-will » Exhibited in » Heinousness of
Self-will and stubbornness » Exemplified » saul
Self-will and stubbornness » Heinousness of
Sorcery » Wickedness of
Stubbornness » What stubbornness is
The wicked » Causes of failure in » Rejection of, by God

1 Samuel 15:24 (show verse)

Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned. I have transgressed the Lord’s command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them.

1 Samuel 15:25 (show verse)

Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the Lord.”

1 Samuel 15:26 (show verse)

Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

1 Samuel 15:27 (show verse)

When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.

1 Samuel 15:28 (show verse)

Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

1 Samuel 15:29 (show verse)

Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind.”

1 Samuel 15:30 (show verse)

Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the Lord your God.”

1 Samuel 15:31 (show verse)

Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the Lord.

1 Samuel 15:32 (show verse)

Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of Amalek.”

Agag came to him trembling, for he thought, “Certainly the bitterness of death has come.”

1 Samuel 15:33 (show verse)

Samuel declared:

As your sword has made women childless,
so your mother will be childless among women.


Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 15:34 (show verse)

Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.

1 Samuel 15:35 (show verse)

Even to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted He had made Saul king over Israel.