The Skeptics Annotated Bible (270 page)

24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

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.

27 And as
Samuel
turned about to go away, he
laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

(15.27)
“Samuel … laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.”
Samuel was so upset that Saul left one Amalekite alive (instead of killing everyone like God commanded) that he tore his skirt.

28 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.

29 And also
the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

(15.29)
“The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.”
32 Does God repent?
139 Does God lie?

30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.

32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And
Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD
in Gilgal.

(15.33)
“Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD.”
To please God, Samuel hacks Agag in pieces “before the Lord.” (I bet God enjoyed that!)—after Agag pleads with him saying, “surely the bitterness of death has past.”
182 Did Saul and Samuel kill all the Amalekites?
183 Was Haman an Agagite?
God’s 66th killing

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

35 And
Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death
: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and
the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

(15.35a)
“Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death.”
184 When was the last time that Samuel saw Saul?

(15.35b)
“The LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.”
32 Does God repent?

16
And
the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?
fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

(16.1)
“The LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?”
God tells Samuel to quit moping around about Saul and get out and find another king.

2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.