1Sa 15:10-29 | TNotes

15:12 ^a Carmel was a town near Hebron in southern Judah.

• Saul commemorated his own accomplishments by erecting a monument to himself. In reality, he had earned shame (15:16-19 ^b).

• Gilgal: See 13:4 ^c.
15:13 ^d I have carried out the Lord’s command! Cp. 15:3 ^e. Saul apparently thought his actions were justified (15:15 ^f; cp. Lev 22:19 ^g). Samuel, however, cut through Saul’s pretense (1 Sam 15:17-19 ^h) and carried out God’s command himself (15:32-33 ⁱ).
15:15 ^j Saul blamed the army even though he was the commander. Certainly, his real motivation was not spiritual (15:9 ^k).
15:17 ^l As the anointed ... king of Israel, Saul bore the responsibility for disobeying God, which neither false humility nor making excuses could diminish.
15:21 ^m my troops: Saul persisted in blaming others (see 15:15 ⁿ).

• Gilgal was a religious center. Saul tried to use religion to justify disobedience to God.
15:22 ^o What is more pleasing: God values obedience much more than ritual (see also Ps 40:6 ^p; Hos 6:6 ^q; Matt 12:7 ^r).

• the fat of rams: The choicest parts of the animal were offered to God.
15:23 ^s Rebellion ... and stubbornness, sins of the heart, are as bad as the sinful practices of idolatrous pagans.

• Scripture condemns witchcraft (see study note on Deut 18:10).
Summary for 1Sam 15:24-30: 15:24-30 ^t Saul finally confessed his sin. But it was too little, too late—and still accompanied by excuses. 15:24 ^u I was afraid of the people: Saul continued to blame others (see 15:15 ^v, 21 ^w).

• what they demanded: There is no hint of such pressure in the chapter. Saul’s confession appears dishonest (cp. David, 2 Sam 12:13 ^x; Ps 51 ^y).
15:28 ^z Saul soon discovered who this someone else was (18:8-9 ^aa; cp. ch 16 ^ab).
15:29 ^ac nor will he change his mind: Samuel spoke prophetically of God’s commitment to make David king and to preserve his dynasty. God had rejected Saul, but he would never reject David (see 2 Sam 7:8-17 ^ad).