Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Yahweh’s word, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.” As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
Show the surrounding paragraph
1 Samuel 15:26-28 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Yahweh’s word, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.” As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.”
Parallel Translations
-
Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Yahweh’s word, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore.
Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
-
And 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.
And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
And 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.
Show all 3 translations
-
And 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.'
And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent.
And 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.
Cross-references (23)
- Hosea 4:6 (v26) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to…
- 1 Samuel 13:14 (vv26, 28) But now your kingdom will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince…
- 1 Samuel 16:1 (v26) Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil,…
- 1 Samuel 15:23 (v26) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has…
- 1 Samuel 28:17-18 (v28) Yahweh has done to you as he spoke by me. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.…
Show all 21 cross-references
- Jeremiah 6:19 (v26) Hear, earth! Behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words; and as…
- 2 John 1:11 (v26) for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
- Genesis 43:11-14 (v26) Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a…
- 1 Samuel 2:30 (v26) “Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father should walk before me forever.’ But…
- 1 Samuel 15:31 (v26) So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh.
- Luke 24:28-29 (v26) They came near to the village where they were going, and he acted like he would go further. They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it…
- Genesis 42:38 (v26) He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which…
- Acts 13:22 (v28) When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after…
- 1 Kings 11:30-31 (vv27–28) Ahijah took the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces. He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces; for Yahweh, the God of…
- 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (v28) Yahweh makes poor and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up. He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the…
- 1 Samuel 16:12 (v28) He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. Yahweh said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”
- Jeremiah 27:5-6 (v28) ‘I have made the earth, the men, and the animals that are on the surface of the earth by my great power and by my outstretched arm. I give…
- Daniel 4:17 (v28) “ ‘The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that…
- Daniel 4:32 (v28) You shall be driven from men; and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass as oxen. Seven times…
- John 19:11 (v28) Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you…
- Romans 13:1 (v28) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by…
21 distinct cross-references across this passage (23 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v28 That is, to David.
That is, to David.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv26–28 1Sa 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will…
1Sa 15:26 And 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.
Ver. 26. The Lord hath rejected thee.] God loveth to retaliate; and what wonder that the holy and true God casteth off him, whose best was dissimulation?
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv26, 28 I will not return with thee: this was no…
I will not return with thee: this was no lie, though he afterwards returned, because he spoke what he meant; his words and intentions agreed together, though afterwards he saw reason to change his intentions: compare Gen 19:2,3; which may relieve many perplexed consciences, who think themselves obliged to do what they have said they would do, though they see just cause to change their minds.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv26–28 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return…
And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee,.... Not being satisfied with his repentance and confession, he still extenuating his sin, and laying the blame of it on the people. This he said by way of resentment, and as expressing his indignation at him, though he afterwards did return with him on a change of his mind; which a good man may be allowed to make, without any imputation of falsehood or a lie unto him:
for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel; which is repeated from Sa1 15:23 for the confirmation of it, and to let Saul know that his pretended confession and repentance had made no alteration in the decree and sentence of God respecting the kingdom.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v26 I will not - This was no lie, though…
I will not - This was no lie, though he afterwards returned, because he spoke what he meant; his words and his intentions agreed together, though afterwards he saw reason to change his intentions. Compare Gen. xix, 2, 3. This may relieve many perplexed consciences, who think themselves obliged to do what they have said they would do, though they see just cause to change their minds. Hath rejected thee, &c. - But he does not say, he "hath rejected thee from salvation." And who besides hath authority to say so?
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v26 Verse 26. I will not return with thee] I…
Verse 26. I will not return with thee] I cannot acknowledge thee as king, seeing the Lord hath rejected thee.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv26, 28 1Sa 15:26. I will not — This was no…
1Sa 15:26. I will not — This was no lie, though he afterward returned, because he spoke what he meant; his words and his intentions agreed together, though afterward he saw reason to change his intentions. Compare Gen 19:2-3. This may relieve many perplexed consciences, who think themselves obliged to do what they have said they would do, though they see just cause to change their minds. Hath rejected thee, &c. — But he does not say, he “hath rejected thee from salvation.” And who besides hath authority to say so?
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v27 Rent: a dreadful prognostic that Saul was cast away.…
Rent: a dreadful prognostic that Saul was cast away. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v27 he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle--the…
he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle--the moil, upper tunic, official robe. In an agony of mental excitement, he took hold of the prophet's dress to detain him; the rending of the mantle [Sa1 15:27] was adroitly pointed to as a significant and mystical representation of his severance from the throne.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v27 27. He laid hold upon the skirt of his…
27. He laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle — The solemn words and manner of the seer, and his turning to depart, thrilled Saul with sudden emotions of fear; and that stern image of the mantled Samuel seemed ever after to haunt the monarch’s soul. Compare 1Sa_28:14.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On v27 27. the skirt of his mantle] Some kind of…
27. the skirt of his mantle] Some kind of a lappet or flap hanging down behind, which could be easily torn or cut off, seems to be meant. Cp. 1Sa_24:4. As Samuel turned to go, Saul seized it to detain him, and it was torn off. The accident served Samuel as an emblem of the complete severance of the sovereignty from Saul. Compare Ahijah’s symbolical action (1Ki_11:30-31).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv26–28 (26) I will not return with thee.—Samuel too clearly…
(26) I will not return with thee.—Samuel too clearly sees what are the true springs of Saul’s repentance, and refuses at first. It was only, as C. a Lapide forcibly urges, a fear on the part of the king, of losing the kingdom and of incurring public disgrace. The prophet for reply again repeats the terrible Divine sentence of rejection.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v26 Vers. 26, 27, 28. At first the prophet refuses…
Vers. 26, 27, 28. At first the prophet refuses the king"s request. Saul had dishonoured God, and, therefore, had no claim to public homage from God"s minister. He turns, therefore, to go away, and Saul in his eagerness seizes hold of Samuel"s mantle. The A.V is very careless about the exact rendering of words of this description, and seems guided in its choice of terms simply by the ear. Now the mantle, addereth, though used of the Shinar shawl stolen by Achan, (Jos_7:21, Jos_7:24) was the distinctive dress of the prophets, but naturally was never worn by Samuel himself. Special dresses come into use only gradually, and Elijah is the first person described as being thus clad. Long before his time the schools of the prophets had grown into a national institution, and a loose wrapper of coarse cloth made of camel"s hair, fastened round the body at the waist by a leathern girdle, had become the usual prophetic dress, and continued so to be until the arrival of Israel"s last prophet, John the Baptist. (Mat_3:4) The garment here spoken of is the meil, on which see 1Sa_2:19, where it was shown to be the ordinary dress of people of various classes in easy circumstances. Now the meil was not a loosely flowing garment, but fitted rather closely to the body, and, therefore, the tearing of it implies a considerable amount of violence on Saul"s part. Skirt, moreover, gives a wrong idea. What Saul took hold of was the hem, the outer border of the garment, probably at Samuel"s neck or shoulder, as he turned to go away. He seized him, as we should say, by the collar, and endeavoured by main force to retain him, and in the struggle the hem rent. And Samuel, using it as an omen, said, Jehovah hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. Neighbour is used in Hebrew in a very indefinite manner, and here means generally "some one, whoever it may be," but one who will discharge the duties of thy office better than thou hast done. (Luk_10:36)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v26 Thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and…
1Sa_15:26
Thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee.
Read full note →
One sin too many
The whole story affords an extensive illustration of sin in almost all of its phases of manifestation as judged by the righteous law of God.
1. We discover the simple nature of sin: it is disobedience of a Divine command.
2. We learn, likewise, a lesson concerning the wide reach of sin. Saul felt quite independent in his disobedience It is not possible for any man to keep his sin all to himself. This universe is balanced with great nicety. It cannot endure a sinners perversity without suffering any more than an oarsman can tolerate a perverse boy in a boat; every time the self-willed creature steps across the thwart he rocks the vessel, and makes it uncomfortable and perilous for each one who has anything to do with him.
3. Next to this, we discover an illustration of the bold effrontery of sin. Iniquity often tries to carry off shame with a show of daring, and attempts to restore its self-confidence with a complacency of self-congratulation.
4. Now comes a lesson concerning the certain discovery of sin. Guilt always feels lonely; and yet, curiously enough, always imagines that everybody knows about the crime. Conscience keeps the culprit excited, for he understands that nature positively abhors transgression of law.
5. Once more: the story gives us an illustration of the evasive meanness of sin.
6. Then we have a lesson concerning the hypocritical excuses offered for sin.
7. Now just at this point we receive a lesson concerning the just condemnation of sin.
8. There is likewise here an illustration of the aggregating force of sin. It is hardly worth while to attempt to enumerate the acts of wickedness which followed directly upon this first dereliction of Saul: treachery, lying, vanity, covetousness, hypocrisy--these were among them. There are degrees of depravity, no doubt; but all sin is bad, and tends to what is worse.
9. Still another lesson meets us here, and now it is concerning the inevitable result of sin. Saul had reached the limit of Divine forbearance. Indeed, he had already committed one sin too many. It was of no use for him to plead for pardon any more. There is something very strange in the subsequent career of this monarch; he seems bewildered and off his balance. All sin left to itself is hopeless. The kingdom was taken from this man so that he should not injure anyone else any more. Even heathen people know that is lust. When we were at school we used to declaim this sentence from Demosthenes oration: It is not possible, O Athenians! that a power should be permanent which is marked with injustice, perjury, and falsehood. Hence, finally, sin becomes massed and destructive. It is an Arab saying that we so often quote: The last straw breaks the camels back. No; it is the whole load that kills the camel, but it is the last straw which makes the load complete and intolerable. When the fall of the beast comes, all the burden tells. A time arrives at the last when just one more little act of rebellion against God discharges all the violence of Divine wrath in an absolute reprobation. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.)
Samuel declaring the deposition of Saul
Few characters more blameless than that of Samuel.
I. His office. This was to declare the will of God. He was not called to decide or to adjudicate, but to declare. When Saul was called to the kingdom, Samuel was employed to declare to him the call of God (1Sa_9:17; 1Sa_9:20): He did not select, but declare Gods selection. So when Saul was to be set aside. Samuel was employed to declare his deposition (1Sa_15:28). He did not depose, but declared Gods deposition
II. The spirit in which he acted.
1. He was faithful to the Lord who sent him. He faithfully convicted Saul of his disobedience (1Sa_15:14; 1Sa_15:17). He showed him the hollowness of his vain excuses (1Sa_15:22-23). He fearlessly and faithfully told him that the Lord had that day rent the kingdom from him (1Sa_15:26). Learn that those who have a message from God must give it faithfully.
2. He was most tender to the sinner to whom he was sent. Had he given way to personal jealousy, he might have been pleased at the fall of Saul; for when he was old the people had asked for a king in a most ungrateful spirit.
But he showed no such mean jealousy.
1. When he heard of Sauls fault he was grieved and spent the whole night in prayer (1Sa_15:11). He did not give his reproof in a hard and unfeeling spirit, but with a sorrowing heart. The lips that seemed so severe in declaring judgment had been employed all night in pleading for mercy.
2. When the sentence of God was announced, he did all he could to mitigate the pain. It is the duty of the minister faithfully to denounce sin; but if he would do so effectually, he must prepare the way by tenderness, tears, and prayers; and he must accompany his painful message by a clear evidence of sorrowful tenderness towards the sinner. Nothing tends more to harden sinners than hard denunciation. (E. Horne, M. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv26, 28 for you have rejected the word of Yahweh
for you have rejected the word of Yahweh
Samuel made it clear that Saul understood that he was disobeying God at the time when he spared the best animals and did not kill Agag.
Read full note →
rejected the word of Yahweh
"rejected Yahweh's command" or "rejected Yahweh's message." This means that he refused to obey Yahweh's command. AT: "refused to obey Yahweh's command" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Saul took hold of the hem of his robe
Saul did this to try to stop Samuel from leaving. This can be stated explicitly. AT: "Saul tried to stop him by grabbing the edge of Samuel's robe" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
the hem of his robe
"the edge of his robe" or "the fringe of his robe"
translationWords
Yahweh
king
Israel
robe
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v28 15:28 Saul soon discovered who this someone else was…
15:28 Saul soon discovered who this someone else was (18:8-9; cp. ch 16).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.