a. Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me”: The issue was not yet resolved for Samuel – there was still the matter of Saul’s incomplete obedience. God’s command to utterly destroy all of Amalek still stood, even if Saul didn’t obey it.
b. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past”: As Agag came to the old prophet he thought, “We will let bygones be bygones. I guess this old prophet will let me go home now.” The Living Bible expresses the thought well: Agag arrived all full of smiles, for he thought “surely the worst is over and I have been spared.”
i. “I who have escaped death from the hands of a warlike prince in the fury of battle, shall certainly never suffer death from an old prophet in time of peace.” (Poole)
c. As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women: Samuel makes it clear that Agag was not an innocent bystander when it came to the atrocities the Amalekites inflicted on Israel. Agag was the wicked and violent leader of a wicked and violent people. God’s judgment against him and the Amalekites was just.
d. And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal: Samuel was a priest and had officiated at hundreds of animal sacrifices. He knew how it felt when the blade cut into flesh, but he had never killed another person. Now, without hesitation, this old prophet raises a sword – or probably a large knife, such as he would use in sacrifices – and brought it down upon this proud, violent king. Samuel hacked Agag in pieces.
i. Notably, Samuel did it before the LORD. This was not before Saul, to show him how weak and proud he was. This was not before Israel, to show them how strong and tough Samuel was. This was before the LORD, in tough obedience to the LORD God. This scene must have been shockingly violent; the stomachs of those watching must have turned. Yet Samuel did it all before the LORD.
ii. “But these are no precedents for private persons to take the sword of justice into their hands; for we must live by the laws of God, and not by extraordinary examples.” (Poole) (Guzik)
Before the Lord
The sword of justice belongs to God and not man which is why one of the commandments says, ”‘You shall not murder.“ Deuteronomy 5:17 NKJV
It was God that carried out judgement on the Amelakites using king Saul and his army, but Saul didn’t completely do what he was instructed to do before the Lord.
But Jesus said murder begins in heart!
”“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.“
Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV
If you’re angry with someone, lift it up (pray) before the Lord and ask Him to remove the anger.
Have you murdered someone in your heart? I’m guilty!
Blessings
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