Thematic Bible




1 Samuel 15:1 (show verse)

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Yahweh sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. So then, {listen to the words} of Yahweh!

1 Samuel 15:2 (show verse)

Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'I have observed what Amalek did to Israel, {how he opposed him} when he went up from Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:3 (show verse)

So then, go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that is his! You must not spare him, but kill both man and woman, both child and nursing infant, both ox and sheep, both camel and donkey.'"

1 Samuel 15:4 (show verse)

Saul summoned the army and mustered them at Telaim; two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.

1 Samuel 15:5 (show verse)

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

1 Samuel 15:6 (show verse)

Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, leave! Withdraw from among the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you with them. You have shown loyal love to all the {Israelites} when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites left from among [the] Amalekites.

1 Samuel 15:7 (show verse)

Then Saul defeated [the] Amalekites from Havilah as one goes to Shur which [is] {east of} Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:8 (show verse)

He captured Agag the king of Amalek alive, but all the people he utterly destroyed with the {edge} of the sword.

1 Samuel 15:9 (show verse)

However, Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and the cattle and the second [best] of the young fatlings and {all that was valuable}; they were not willing to utterly destroy them. But all the possessions that were despised or worthless, they utterly destroyed.

1 Samuel 15:10 (show verse)

Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel, saying,

1 Samuel 15:11 (show verse)

"I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not kept my word." {Samuel became angry}, and he cried out to Yahweh all night.

1 Samuel 15:12 (show verse)

Then Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul. Samuel was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel, and look, he [is] setting up a monument for himself." Then he turned around and crossed over and went down to Gilgal.

1 Samuel 15:13 (show verse)

When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said to him, "May you be blessed by Yahweh! I have kept the word of Yahweh."

1 Samuel 15:14 (show verse)

But Samuel said, "Then what [is] this bleating of the sheep [that I hear] in my ears and the lowing of the cattle that I am hearing?"

1 Samuel 15:15 (show verse)

Saul said, "They have brought them from [the] Amalekites; the troops spared the best of the sheep and the cattle in order to sacrifice them to Yahweh your God. But the rest we have utterly destroyed."

1 Samuel 15:16 (show verse)

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop and let me tell you what Yahweh said to me last night." So he said to him, "Speak."

1 Samuel 15:17 (show verse)

Samuel said, "Even though you [are] small in your [own] eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh has anointed you as king over Israel.

1 Samuel 15:18 (show verse)

When Yahweh sent you on your way, he said to you: 'Go! You must utterly destroy the sinners, [the] Amalekites, and you must fight against them until you have destroyed them.'

1 Samuel 15:19 (show verse)

Why did you not listen to the voice of Yahweh and fall with shouting on the plunder? You have done evil in the sight of Yahweh!"

1 Samuel 15:20 (show verse)

Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have listened to the voice of Yahweh, and I have gone on the way that Yahweh sent me! I brought Agag the king of Amalek, and the Amalekites I have utterly destroyed.

1 Samuel 15:21 (show verse)

The troops took from the plunder, sheep and cattle, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal."

1 Samuel 15:22 (show verse)

Then Samuel said, "Is there [as much] delight for Yahweh in burnt offerings and sacrifices as [there is] in {obeying} Yahweh? Look! {To obey} [is] better than sacrifice; to give heed 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; arrogance [is like] iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has rejected you from [being] 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)

Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned because I have transgressed {the commandment of Yahweh} and your words, for I feared the troops and I listened to their voice.

1 Samuel 15:25 (show verse)

So then, please pardon my sin and return with me {so that I can worship} Yahweh."

1 Samuel 15:26 (show verse)

But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and he has rejected you from being king over Israel!"

1 Samuel 15:27 (show verse)

As Samuel turned around to go, he caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.

1 Samuel 15:28 (show verse)

Then Samuel said to him, "Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor {who is better than you}.

1 Samuel 15:29 (show verse)

Moreover, the Glory of Israel will not break faith and will not regret, for he [is] not a human that he should regret."

1 Samuel 15:30 (show verse)

Then he said, "I have sinned! Now please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me {so that I can worship} Yahweh your God."

1 Samuel 15:31 (show verse)

So Samuel returned after Saul, and Saul {worshiped} Yahweh.

1 Samuel 15:32 (show verse)

Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag the king of Amalek out to me!" Agag came to him confidently, for Agag thought, "Surely the bitterness of death {is over}."

1 Samuel 15:33 (show verse)

Samuel said, "Just as your sword bereaved women, so will your mother be bereaved among women!" Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces in the presence of Yahweh at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 15:34 (show verse)

Then Samuel went to Ramah and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.

1 Samuel 15:35 (show verse)

Samuel {did not see Saul again} until the day of his death, but Samuel mourned over Saul, and Yahweh regretted that he made Saul king over Israel.