Bible Chapter Summary
1 Samuel 15 Summary
Saul's Disobedience to Amalek
Samuel commands Saul to go and utterly destroy the Amalekites as judgment for what they did to Israel coming out of Egypt, sparing nothing and no one. Saul gathers his forces and smites the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur but spares Agag the king and the best of the sheep and oxen. God tells Samuel He repents making Saul king because Saul has turned back from following Him. When Samuel confronts Saul, Saul claims he has performed the commandment, but Samuel points to the bleating sheep as evidence of disobedience. Samuel declares that obedience is better than sacrifice, that rebellion is as witchcraft, and that God has rejected Saul from being king. Samuel himself hews Agag in pieces before the Lord.
Key themes
Key verses
1 Samuel 15:22-23
“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.”
1 Samuel 15:28
“And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.”
1 Samuel 15:35
“And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.”
Read 1 Samuel 15 in full
Study the complete chapter with interlinear Hebrew & Greek, verse-by-verse, in the Gospel Daily reader.
Open the full chapter