1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 57Consistent with his view of his own behavior, Saul claimed to have obeyed God (v. 13).Nevertheless he had only been partially obedient. God regards incomplete obedience asdisobedience (v. 19). Rather than confessing his sin, Saul sought to justify hisdisobedience (v. 15; cf. Gen. 3:12; Exod. 32:22-23). He believed it was for a worthypurpose, and he failed to take responsibility for his actions but blamed the people instead(v. 15)."Samuel now realized that Saul was not a leader, but the tool and slave ofthe people." 166Samuel had earlier delivered a message of doom to Eli in the morning (3:15-18). Now hedelivered one to Saul on another morning (v. 16)."There is in all of us an inclination to resent being told what to do; butthose in positions of authority and power are all the more reluctant toacknowledge anyone else's superior authority." 167Since Saul returned to Gilgal to offer sacrifices, it is possible that this was the site of thetabernacle (vv. 12, 15; cf. 10:8; 13:8-10). If this was the Gilgal in the Jordan Valley, itwas where the Israelites had pitched the tabernacle first in Canaan after they crossed theJordan River in Joshua's day (Josh. 4:19). On the other hand, the Israelites offeredsacrifices at places other than the tabernacle after they entered the Promised Land. Wecannot say for sure that Saul went to Gilgal because the tabernacle was there.Saul had formerly been genuinely humble. He had realistically evaluated himself beforehis anointing (v. 17; cf. 9:21). Yet when he became king he viewed himself as theultimate authority in Israel, a view common among ancient Near Eastern monarchs. Thisattitude led him to disobey the Law of God. God had sent Saul on a mission (v. 18; cf.Matt. 28:19-20), which involved the total extermination of the Amalekites. The Hebrewword translated "sinners" means habitually wicked people (cf. Ps. 1:1, 5), like theCanaanites."That Haman the 'Agagite' (Esth 3:1, 10; 8:3, 5; 9:24) was an Amalekite istaken for granted by Josephus, who states that Haman's determination todestroy all the Jews in Persia was in retaliation for Israel's previousdestruction of all his ancestors (Antiq. XI, 211 [vi.5])." 168If Josephus was correct, Saul's total obedience to God would have precluded Haman'sattempt to annihilate the Jews in Esther's day.Saul persisted in calling partial obedience total obedience (v. 20). He again placedresponsibility for sparing some of the spoils taken in the battle on the people (v. 21), but166 Young, p. 285.167 David Payne, pp. 77-78.168 Youngblood, p. 674. However there is good reason to believe that Agag was the name of an area inMedia that had become part of the Persian Empire. See Archer, p. 421.