25 "Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord ." 26 But Samuel said to Saul , "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord , and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel ." 27 As Samuel turned to go , Saul seized the edge of his robe , and it tore . 28 So Samuel said to him, " The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor , who is better than you. 29 "Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind ; for He is not a man that He should change His mind ." 30 Then he said , "I have sinned ; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel , and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God ." 31 So Samuel went back following Saul , and Saul worshiped the Lord .
32 Then Samuel said , "Bring me Agag , the king of the Amalekites ." And Agag came to him cheerfully . And Agag said , "Surely the bitterness of death is past ." 33 But Samuel said , " As your sword has made women childless , so shall your mother be childless among women ." And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal . 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah , but Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul . 35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death ; for Samuel grieved over Saul . And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:25-42
Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:24-31
(Read 1 Samuel 15:24-31)
There were several signs of hypocrisy in Saul's repentance. 1. He besought Samuel only, and seemed most anxious to stand right in his opinion, and to gain his favour. 2. He excuses his fault, even when confessing it; that is never the way of a true penitent. 3. All his care was to save his credit, and preserve his interest in the people. Men are fickle and alter their minds, feeble and cannot effect their purposes; something happens they could not foresee, by which their measures are broken; but with God it is not so. The Strength of Israel will not lie.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:32-35
(Read 1 Samuel 15:32-35)
Many think the bitterness of death is past when it is not gone by; they put that evil day far from them, which is very near. Samuel calls Agag to account for his own sins. He followed the example of his ancestors' cruelty, justly therefore is all the righteous blood shed by Amalek required. Saul seems unconcerned at the token of God's displeasure which he lay under, yet Samuel mourns day and night for him. Jerusalem was carnally secure while Christ wept over it. Do we desire to do the whole will of God? Turn to him, not in form and appearance, but with sincerity.