1 Samuel 15:15

KJV

And 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Saul {H7586} said {H559}, They have brought {H935} them from the Amalekites {H6003}: for the people {H5971} spared {H2550} the best {H4315} of the sheep {H6629} and of the oxen {H1241}, to sacrifice {H2076} unto the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}; and the rest {H3498} we have utterly destroyed {H2763}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Sha'ul said, "They brought them from the 'Amaleki, because the people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to ADONAI your God. But we completely destroyed the rest."

Berean Standard Bible

Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”

American Standard Version

And 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 Jehovah thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 1 Samuel 15:15, King Saul offers a deceptive justification to the prophet Samuel for his blatant disobedience regarding God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites. He attempts to shift blame from himself to "the people," claiming they spared the choicest livestock not out of greed or defiance, but with the pious intention of sacrificing them to "the LORD thy God." This pivotal moment exposes Saul's spiritual immaturity, his fear of man over God, and his fundamental misunderstanding of true obedience, setting the stage for his ultimate rejection as king.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of Saul's decline as king. Immediately preceding it, God had commanded Saul through Samuel to execute divine judgment upon the Amalekites, utterly destroying everything (men, women, children, infants, oxen, sheep, camels, and donkeys) as a consequence for their historical hostility towards Israel ([1 Samuel 15:3](/1-samuel/15-3 "1 Samuel 15:3 - God's Command to Destroy Amalek")). Saul, however, spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. Samuel's arrival and direct confrontation in [1 Samuel 15:14](/1-samuel/15-14 "1 Samuel 15:14 - Samuel's Question to Saul") ("What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?") directly prompts Saul's excuse in verse 15. This exchange then leads to Samuel's famous rebuke in [1 Samuel 15:22](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Better Than Sacrifice"), emphasizing that "to obey is better than sacrifice." The entire chapter serves as the definitive turning point marking God's rejection of Saul's kingship due to his persistent disobedience.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Amalekites were a nomadic people, descendants of Esau, who had a long history of animosity towards Israel, notably attacking them from behind during their exodus from Egypt ([Exodus 17:8-16](/exodus/17-8-16 "Exodus 17:8-16 - Amalek Attacks Israel")). God had sworn to blot out their memory ([Deuteronomy 25:17-19](/deuteronomy/25-17-19 "Deuteronomy 25:17-19 - Remember Amalek")). The command to "utterly destroy" (Hebrew: *herem*) was a specific form of holy war, where spoils were consecrated to God by being completely destroyed, signifying God's absolute judgment and preventing human gain or defilement. Saul's actions directly violated this sacred principle, either out of a desire for personal gain, to appease his soldiers, or to elevate himself by bringing back a captive king and valuable spoils, mirroring the practices of other ancient Near Eastern kings.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several crucial themes. The most prominent is the nature of **obedience versus disobedience**, highlighting that partial obedience is, in God's eyes, complete disobedience, as it compromises His absolute authority and holiness. It also showcases **blame-shifting and excuse-making**, as Saul attempts to deflect personal responsibility onto "the people" and justify his actions with a false pious motive. Furthermore, it underscores the danger of **fearing man over fearing God**, suggesting Saul's actions were influenced by a desire for popular approval or material gain rather than prioritizing God's explicit command ([Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Fear of Man")). Finally, the passage speaks to the **nature of true worship**, demonstrating that outward religious acts (like sacrifice) are meaningless, and even offensive, when they are used as a substitute for genuine, heartfelt obedience to God's revealed will ([Isaiah 1:11-15](/isaiah/1-11-15 "Isaiah 1:11-15 - God's Rejection of Empty Rituals")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **spared (Hebrew, _chamal'_):** This verb means "to pity," "to spare," or "to have compassion." In this context, it signifies a deliberate act of withholding destruction, directly contrary to God's command. It implies a conscious choice by Saul (or "the people" he blames) to preserve what was meant for utter annihilation, revealing a lack of reverence for God's explicit instructions.
* **best (Hebrew, _meitav'_):** This noun refers to the "choicest," "finest," or "most excellent" of something. The fact that "the best" was spared, rather than just random or inferior animals, highlights the value and desirability of the spoils. This detail undermines Saul's claim of a purely spiritual motive, suggesting a worldly desire for gain or prestige was at play.
* **sacrifice (Hebrew, _zevach'_):** This term denotes an animal sacrifice, an offering made to God. Saul's use of this word is an attempt to legitimize his disobedience by framing it as a religious act. It reveals a profound misunderstanding or cynical manipulation of worship, believing that a ritual could compensate for direct defiance of God's command.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites:"** Saul's immediate response is to deflect blame. He uses the pronoun "They" (referring to his soldiers or "the people" in the subsequent clause) to distance himself from personal responsibility for the spared livestock. This is a classic example of blame-shifting, characteristic of a leader unwilling to own his failures.
* **"for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen,"** This clause specifies the nature of the disobedience: the sparing of valuable livestock. The emphasis on "the best" further highlights the deliberate choice to preserve items of worth, rather than a mere oversight. Saul continues to attribute the action to "the people," avoiding direct personal culpability.
* **"to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God;"** Here, Saul introduces a false pious justification for the disobedience. He claims the animals were spared with the intention of offering them as sacrifices. The phrase "thy God" (rather than "my God") is significant, suggesting a subtle distancing from God, perhaps an attempt to appeal to Samuel's religious sensibilities or to imply that Samuel's God is separate from his own. It reveals a transactional view of worship, where a religious act is offered as a substitute for obedience.
* **"and the rest we have utterly destroyed."** This final clause is Saul's attempt to present himself as largely obedient, minimizing the severity of his transgression. By stating that "the rest" was destroyed, he implies that he did *most* of what was commanded, hoping to mitigate the impact of his partial obedience. This demonstrates a failure to grasp that God demands complete, not selective, obedience.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent **literary devices** to underscore Saul's character and the gravity of his actions. **Blame-shifting** is prominently displayed, as Saul repeatedly attributes the disobedience to "the people" rather than accepting personal responsibility, a rhetorical strategy designed to deflect accountability. There is a profound **irony** in Saul's claim that the spared animals were intended "to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God," given that God had already declared His preference for obedience over sacrifice, a truth Samuel would soon articulate in [1 Samuel 15:22](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Better Than Sacrifice"). This serves as a form of **euphemism** or **false justification**, where a seemingly pious motive is used to mask underlying disobedience and potentially greed. The **contrast** between "the best" being spared and "the rest" being utterly destroyed highlights the selective and self-serving nature of Saul's obedience, revealing a heart that picks and chooses which of God's commands to follow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the critical theological principle that God values complete, heartfelt obedience above all else, even above religious ritual or outward acts of worship. Saul's attempt to substitute sacrifice for obedience reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of God's character and His covenant demands. God desires a relationship built on trust and submission to His will, not a transactional one where human efforts or religious performances can compensate for direct defiance. This passage serves as a stark warning against partial obedience, self-justification, and the dangerous human tendency to prioritize personal gain or popular approval over divine command. True devotion is demonstrated not by what we *say* we will do for God, but by our faithful adherence to what He *has commanded*.

* [1 Samuel 15:22](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Better Than Sacrifice")
* [Proverbs 21:3](/proverbs/21-3 "Proverbs 21:3 - To Do Righteousness and Justice")
* [Matthew 7:21](/matthew/7-21 "Matthew 7:21 - Not Everyone Who Says 'Lord, Lord'")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Saul's excuse in 1 Samuel 15:15 serves as a timeless mirror for believers, challenging us to examine the sincerity and completeness of our own obedience to God. It forces us to confront our natural inclination to rationalize our shortcomings, shift blame, or perform religious acts as a substitute for genuine submission. Are there areas in our lives where we, like Saul, "spare the best" for ourselves—whether it be time, resources, desires, or ambitions—while claiming to be devoted to God? Do we subtly attribute our failures to circumstances or others, rather than humbly confessing our personal responsibility? This passage calls us to a radical, wholehearted obedience that prioritizes God's explicit commands above all human approval, personal convenience, or perceived gain. It reminds us that true worship is not merely about what we offer, but about how we live in response to God's Word, demonstrating a heart that fears God more than man.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I tend to rationalize or make excuses for my own partial obedience to God's commands?**
* **Am I quicker to blame circumstances or others for my failures than to take personal responsibility and confess my sin?**
* **How might I be tempted to prioritize human approval or personal gain over God's clear instructions in my daily life?**
* **Do my religious activities or outward expressions of faith ever become a substitute for genuine, heartfelt obedience to God's will?**

### FAQ
**Why was God's command to destroy the Amalekites so severe, including women and children?**

Answer: God's command for the utter destruction (*herem*) of the Amalekites, including all living beings, was a unique act of divine judgment, not a general command for warfare. It stemmed from Amalek's persistent and egregious wickedness, particularly their unprovoked and cowardly attack on the vulnerable Israelites (the elderly, women, and children) during their exodus from Egypt ([Exodus 17:8-16](/exodus/17-8-16 "Exodus 17:8-16 - Amalek Attacks Israel")). God had sworn to blot out their memory ([Deuteronomy 25:17-19](/deuteronomy/25-17-19 "Deuteronomy 25:17-19 - Remember Amalek")) due to their deep-seated evil and opposition to His people. This was not arbitrary cruelty but a righteous judgment against a nation that had filled up its measure of iniquity, a demonstration of God's holiness and justice against an utterly corrupt people who posed a continual spiritual and physical threat to Israel. It was a specific, divinely ordained execution of justice for a specific, egregious sin, distinct from general warfare.

**What does Saul's use of "the LORD thy God" (rather than "my God") imply about his relationship with God?**

Answer: Saul's phrasing, "the LORD thy God," is highly significant and reveals a subtle but profound distancing from God. Instead of referring to God as "my God," which would imply a personal relationship and ownership of the divine command, Saul uses a possessive pronoun that attributes God to Samuel. This suggests a lack of personal devotion, a transactional view of his kingship, and perhaps an attempt to appeal to Samuel's piety or to deflect responsibility by making the issue Samuel's concern rather than his own. It indicates that Saul's relationship with God was not one of intimate, obedient submission, but rather one of external obligation or even manipulation, further highlighting his spiritual estrangement.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Saul's failure in 1 Samuel 15:15, marked by partial obedience, blame-shifting, and substituting ritual for genuine submission, stands in stark contrast to the perfect and complete obedience of Jesus Christ. Saul's attempt to offer a "sacrifice" as an excuse for his disobedience foreshadows the profound truth that true worship is found not in human offerings, but in perfect obedience. Where Saul failed to utterly destroy the enemies of God, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Father's will, utterly destroying the power of sin and death through His perfect obedience unto death on the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). Unlike Saul, who sought to please men and preserve spoils, Jesus declared, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but to do the will of him who sent me" ([John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus Doing the Father's Will")). His life was the ultimate "sacrifice" of obedience, making atonement for our own partial obedience and rebellion. Through His perfect obedience, "many will be made righteous" ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Obedience of Christ")), offering us redemption and a new covenant where God's law is written on our hearts, empowering us to obey Him fully, not out of fear or obligation, but out of love and gratitude for the King who perfectly obeyed.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 15:21

But 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 15:9

But 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.

Exodus 32:22

And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they [are set] on mischief.

Exodus 32:23

For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Genesis 3:12

And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:13

And the LORD God said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Matthew 2:8

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found [him], bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.