The big picture
1 Samuel 15 opens in verse 1 with “Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 18 with “And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the…”, and closes in verse 35 with “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Saul, Samuel, Israel, king. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Samuel · King James Version · 351 Samuel 15:1-7
1–7: Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king…
1 Samuel 15:1–7 opens with “Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over…” and reaches “And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel confronting Saul after incomplete obedience while the spared livestock remain visible, with particular weight carried by Saul, Amalek, Amalekites.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore…” Naming Israel and Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he…” Naming Amalek and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 15:1-7
King James Version1Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD .
2Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
4And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
5And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
6And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
7And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
1 Samuel 15:8-14
8–14: He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all…
1 Samuel 15:8–14 opens with “And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the…” and reaches “And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel confronting Saul after incomplete obedience while the spared livestock remain visible, with particular weight carried by Samuel, Saul, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.” Naming Agag and Amalekites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs…” Naming Agag and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 15:8-14
King James Version8And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
12And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
13And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD : I have performed the commandment of the LORD .
14And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
1 Samuel 15:15-21
15–21: Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people…
1 Samuel 15:15–21 opens with “And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the…” and reaches “But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel confronting Saul after incomplete obedience while the spared livestock remain visible, with particular weight carried by LORD, utterly, Amalekites.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the…” Naming Amalekites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him…” Naming Samuel and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 15:15-21
King James Version15And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
16Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
18And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD , but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD ?
20And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD , and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1 Samuel 15:22-28
22–28: Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and…
1 Samuel 15:22–28 opens with “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying…” and reaches “And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel confronting Saul after incomplete obedience while the spared livestock remain visible, with particular weight carried by LORD, Samuel, rejected.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Samuel 15:22-28
King James Version22And 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.
23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD , he hath also rejected thee from being king.
24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD , and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD .
26And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD , and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
27And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
28And 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 15:29-35
29–35: Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a…
1 Samuel 15:29–35 opens with “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should…” and reaches “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel confronting Saul after incomplete obedience while the spared livestock remain visible, with particular weight carried by Samuel, Saul, Agag.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” Naming Israel and Strength keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 15:29-35
King James Version29And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
30Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
31So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD .
32Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
33And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
34Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
35And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Samuel 15:1 begins with “Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Samuel 15:18 forms a natural hinge: “And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.”
The final note
1 Samuel 15:35 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Saul, Samuel, Israel, king, Amalekites help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What is Abram invited to trust?
God's promise of an heir and innumerable descendants despite his present childlessness.
Why does the delay matter?
The covenant is larger than one lifetime and includes suffering before deliverance.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.