Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 15:23
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, etc.] Or divination f308, in whatsoever way it was exercised; for there were various sorts of it among the Heathens, and all condemned by the law of God, (<051810>Deuteronomy 18:10). Now rebellion against God, or disobeying his commands, though in things otherwise, were they not forbidden by him, lawful to be done, is as heinous a sin as to be guilty of witchcraft, or any kind of divination forbidden by the law of God, and deserves as sore a punishment: and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry: for a man, when he has committed a sin, to persist in it obstinately, or to vindicate himself in it, and insist on his innocence, which was Saul’s case, is as hateful to God as any iniquity whatever; yea, as bad as idolatry, or making use of the teraphim, as is the word here; of which (see <280304>Hosea 3:4) than which nothing is more abominable to the Lord: because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord; disregarded his command, treated it with contempt and abhorrence: he hath rejected thee from being king; not actually, for he continued to exercise kingly power and authority to his death, and was treated as a king by his subjects, and even by David, though anointed by the Lord; but the sentence of rejection was pronounced upon him, and the bestowal of the government on his posterity was cut off.
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