Saul's Disobedience

Era: United Kingdom
Date: c. 1028 BC ≈ Approximate
Reference: 1 Samuel 15:10-23

In the biblical account from 1 Samuel 15, God commanded King Saul through the prophet Samuel to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions as an act of divine judgment for their ancient hostility toward Israel. Saul disobeyed by sparing King Agag and the choicest livestock, later claiming these were reserved for sacrifice, which prompted Samuel's rebuke that to obey is better than sacrifice. As a result, God rejected Saul as king, withdrew His Spirit from him, and initiated the search for a new leader. This event underscores the scriptural emphasis on full obedience to God's commands and serves as a turning point that leads to David's anointing.

0:00

Did You Know?

Saul disobeyed by sparing King Agag and the choicest livestock, later claiming these were reserved for sacrifice, which prompted Samuel's rebuke that to obey is better than sacrifice.

As a result, God rejected Saul as king, withdrew His Spirit from him, and initiated the search for a new leader.

This event is dated to approximately c. 1028 BC in biblical chronology.

This took place at or near Gilgal.

Key Passage

Saul's Disobedience

1 Samuel 15:10-23

T¹⁰hen came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

¹¹ It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. ¹² And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. ¹³ And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. ¹⁴ And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. ¹⁷ And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? ¹⁸ And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. ¹⁹ Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? ²⁰ And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 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. ²² And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Read full chapter: 1 Samuel 15 →

Meanwhile in the World

Egypt is in decline (Third Intermediate Period). Phoenicia dominates Mediterranean trade. The Greek Dark Age continues. Assyria is rising in Mesopotamia. Homer may be composing the Iliad and Odyssey. This is the era of the great Phoenician alphabet spreading.

When: c. 1050 - 930 BC

Key Civilizations: Phoenicia, Early Assyria

Biblical Parallels: 1 Samuel 8-31 , 2 Samuel 1-24 , 1 Kings 1-11

Saul's Disobedience

Did You Know?

Key Passage

Saul's Disobedience

Meanwhile in the World

Explore Related

Characters 2

Places 1