This verse emphasizes how incomplete obedience leads to spiritual decline.
“But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” (v.21) In this verse, King Saul is speaking to the prophet Samuel, defending his decision to spare the best animals that were supposed to be utterly destroyed. Saul reigned as the first king of Israel from approximately 1050 to 1010 BC and found himself in this predicament after disobeying God’s explicit instructions to destroy everything belonging to the Amalekites. Gilgal, located near the ancient city of Jericho in the region of the Jordan Valley, was one of the first campsites for the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land, and it served as a significant religious and communal gathering place for God’s people.
“But the people took some of the spoil…” (v.21) highlights Saul’s attempt to shift the blame onto his soldiers for taking these animals. Although he insists their motives were noble and intended to offer sacrifices to God, the heart of God’s command called for total obedience, rather than selective compliance (1 Samuel 15:22). Saul’s words here reveal his misunderstanding that outward religious rituals can appease God in the absence of genuine submission. The verse also underscores the collective responsibility of the Israelites involved—no one is truly exempt from accountability when ignoring God’s clear directives.
“…the choicest of the things devoted to destruction…” (v.21) demonstrates that not only had the people disobeyed by preserving some of the spoils, but they specifically targeted the best portions. This choice dishonored the holiness of God’s command, casting aside the principle that complete obedience is better than partial observance (James 2:10). Reflecting on New Testament teachings, Jesus emphasized the importance of internal devotion over external ritual (Mark 7:6-8). Saul’s disobedience foreshadows the necessity of the perfect obedience that Christ would ultimately fulfill through His life, death, and resurrection (Hebrews 10:10).
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1 Samuel 15:21 meaning
“But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” (v.21) In this verse, King Saul is speaking to the prophet Samuel, defending his decision to spare the best animals that were supposed to be utterly destroyed. Saul reigned as the first king of Israel from approximately 1050 to 1010 BC and found himself in this predicament after disobeying God’s explicit instructions to destroy everything belonging to the Amalekites. Gilgal, located near the ancient city of Jericho in the region of the Jordan Valley, was one of the first campsites for the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land, and it served as a significant religious and communal gathering place for God’s people.
“But the people took some of the spoil…” (v.21) highlights Saul’s attempt to shift the blame onto his soldiers for taking these animals. Although he insists their motives were noble and intended to offer sacrifices to God, the heart of God’s command called for total obedience, rather than selective compliance (1 Samuel 15:22). Saul’s words here reveal his misunderstanding that outward religious rituals can appease God in the absence of genuine submission. The verse also underscores the collective responsibility of the Israelites involved—no one is truly exempt from accountability when ignoring God’s clear directives.
“…the choicest of the things devoted to destruction…” (v.21) demonstrates that not only had the people disobeyed by preserving some of the spoils, but they specifically targeted the best portions. This choice dishonored the holiness of God’s command, casting aside the principle that complete obedience is better than partial observance (James 2:10). Reflecting on New Testament teachings, Jesus emphasized the importance of internal devotion over external ritual (Mark 7:6-8). Saul’s disobedience foreshadows the necessity of the perfect obedience that Christ would ultimately fulfill through His life, death, and resurrection (Hebrews 10:10).