YHWH COMMANDS HIS ANOINTED TO SLAY THE AMALEKITES AS A DIVINE JUDGMENT ON THEM (1 SAMUEL 15:1). It is important to recognise in this passage that Saul is specifically instructed as ‘the anointed of YHWH' and is called on to act as His instrument of justice on the Amalekites. He is to ‘devote' the A... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE AMALEKITES AND HIS SACRILEGE WITH REGARD TO THE DEVOTED THINGS (1 SAMUEL 15:4). 1 Samuel 15:4 ‘ And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred military units of footmen, and ten military units of men of Judah.' In obedience to YHWH's command Sau... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH'S RESPONSE TO THEIR ACTIONS (1 SAMUEL 15:10). YHWH's response was to reject Saul from being king on the grounds of sacrilege and high treason, that is, because by his actions he had rejected his Overlord's commands, and had committed sacrilege against what belonged wholly to YHWH. 1 Samuel 15... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMUEL SEEKS SAUL OUT IN ORDER TO GIVE HIM A STERN REBUKE AND DECLARE THAT YHWH HAS WITHDRAWN FROM HIM HIS SUPPORT (1 SAMUEL 15:12). We do not know for sure where Samuel was at this time although the last that we heard of him he was in Gibeah (1 Samuel 13:15). However much had happened since that t... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMUEL COMPLETES WHAT SAUL HAD FAILED TO COMPLETE (1 SAMUEL 15:32). Samuel recognised that what had been devoted to YHWH must be given to him, and so he calls for Agag to be brought and executes him. And although it is not mentioned we would assume that Samuel also insisted on the ‘devoted' animals... [ Continue Reading ]