15:1 to anoint you as king over his people Israel See 10:1.

listen to the words of Yahweh He must listen for the sake of obedience (compare v. 24 and note).

15:2 Yahweh of hosts This title identifies God as the leader of armies, both of Israel and of heaven.

when he went up from Egypt For Amalek’s opposition to Israel, see Exod 17:8–16.

15:3 Amalek It seems that this was supposed to be the fulfillment of the prophecy against the Amalekites, which called for their total destruction (see Num 24:20; Deut 25:17–19). In performing this action, the Israelites were to execute God’s judgment on them (see Lev 27:28 and note; note on Josh 6:16; note on Josh 6:17).

15:4 ten thousand men of Judah Compare the numbers mustered in 1 Sam 11:8.

15:6 the Kenites The Kenites were the people of Moses’ father-in-law (Judg 1:16; Num 24:21). Jael, who killed one of Israel’s enemies during the time of the judges, was another Kenite who had showed kindness to Israel (see Judg 4:17, 21).

15:8 he utterly destroyed This verse notes that at least one Amalekite—Agag—was left alive, until Samuel kills him (1 Sam 15:33). However, the presence of Amalekites in 27:8 and 30:1–20 (400 are noted in 30:17) indicates that Saul had likely left alive far more than just Agag.

15:9 spared Agag By letting Agag live, Saul does not fully obey the divine decree of 1 Sam 15:3. His selective obedience to God’s commands emphasizes that he needs to be replaced as king.

15:11 I regret that I made Saul king See v. 29 and note.

he has turned back from following me Contrasts the description of a man after God’s own heart (see 13:14 and note). This could be the narrator’s way of indicating that Saul acted like a king of other nations when he should have been acting as Yahweh’s servant (see 8:5, 20).

Samuel became angry Samuel’s attitude reflects God’s: He is angry at Saul’s disobedience.

15:12 to Carmel Refers to a Judahite town, not Mount Carmel (Josh 15:55; 1 Sam 25:2).

a monument for himself Saul honors himself for having carried out God’s command, indicating how self-deceived he was (see 2 Sam 18:18).

15:13 I have kept the word of Yahweh Saul was so deluded by this point that he appears to have actually thought God would be happy with his halfhearted obedience.

15:14 this bleating of the sheep that I hear in my ears God had commanded the slaughter of all Amalekite livestock (1 Sam 15:3).

15:15 the troops spared Sensing Samuel’s displeasure, Saul quickly shifts blame away from himself as he did in 13:11–12.

15:22 To obey is better than sacrifice Although the law required the Israelites to offer sacrifices to God, the sacrifices were never intended to take the place of obedience.

the fat of rams Consumed in the sacrifices.

15:23 the sin of divination Saul later commits the sin of divination too. See 28:7–19.

15:24 I feared the troops On Saul’s fearfulness, see 10:22 and note.

I listened to their voice Rather than listening to God’s voice, Saul ignores God’s instruction and shifts blame to the demands of others (see note on 13:11; 15:15).

15:25 return with me The prophet’s presence communicated God’s favor. If Samuel doesn’t return with Saul, the army might fear that God is not blessing their endeavors or going with them into battle. Samuel’s absence might also suggest there is a rift between the prophet and the king.

15:27 the hem of his robe Probably refers to the tassels required by the law (Num 15:38–39). The king grovels at the feet of the prophet.

15:28 has torn the kingdom of Israel from you Samuel uses the image of his torn garment to describe God’s judgment on Saul.

15:29 the Glory of Israel Refers to God.

will not regret This emphasizes the permanence of God’s decision to punish Saul and anoint another king. The Hebrew verb used here, nacham, often rendered as “regret,” is the same verb used in 1 Sam 15:11 and 15:35, where the narrative notes that Yahweh regretted making Saul king. Since Saul has disobeyed the stipulations of God’s promise to make him king—which specified certain expectations from Saul (12:14–15)—the language of regret in v. 11 and 15:35 reflects Yahweh’s decision to effect a change in kingship in the wake of Saul’s disobedience.

15:31 So Samuel returned after Saul Samuel agrees to return because Saul recognized his sin.

15:32 Surely the bitterness of death is over This statement may be interpreted in one of two ways: Either Agag thinks he will be allowed to live, or he is resigned to his fate.

15:33 Just as your sword bereaved women Agag and the Amalekites were in no way innocent victims of God’s command for total destruction (see v. 18; note on v. 3).

Samuel hacked Agag to pieces Samuel fulfills God’s command to destroy the Amalekites completely (v. 3).

15:35 Yahweh regretted See note on v. 29.