SEV Biblia, Chapter 15:23
Porque la rebelión es pecado de hechicería, e ídolo e idolatría el quebrantar la palabra de Dios . Y por cuanto tú desechaste la palabra del SEÑOR, él también te ha desechado para que no seas rey.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:23
Verse 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.] This is no translation of those difficult words, rxph µyprtw waw yrm µsq tafj yk ki chattath kesem meri veaven utheraphim haphtsar. It appears to me that the three nouns which occur first in the text refer each to the three last in order. Thus, tafj chattath, TRANSGRESSION, refers to wa aven, INIQUITY, which is the principle whence transgression springs. µsq kesem, DIVINATION, refers to µyprt teraphim, consecrated images or telesms, vulgarly talismans, used in incantations. And yrm meri, REBELLION, refers evidently to rxph haphstar, STUBBORNNESS, whence rebellion springs. The meaning therefore of this difficult place may be the following: As transgression comes from iniquity, divination from teraphim, and rebellion from stubbornness, so, because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. All the versions are different.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. 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, ( 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 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-23 - Repentance in God is not a change of mind, as it is in us, but a chang of method. The change was in Saul; "He is turned back from followin me." Hereby he made God his enemy. Samuel spent a whole night in pleading for Saul. The rejection of sinners is the grief of believers God delights not in their death, nor should we. Saul boasts to Samue of his obedience. Thus sinners think, by justifying themselves, to escape being judged of the Lord. The noise the cattle made, like the rust of the silver, Jas 5:3, witnessed against him. Many boast of obedience to the command of God; but what means then their indulgenc of the flesh, their love of the world, their angry and unkind spirit and their neglect of holy duties, which witness against them? See of what evil covetousness is the root; and see what is the sinfulness of sin, and notice that in it which above any thing else makes it evil in the sight of the Lord; it is disobedience: "Thou didst not obey the voice of the Lord." Carnal, deceitful hearts, like Saul, think to excuse themselves from God's commandments by what pleases themselves It is hard to convince the children of disobedience. But humble sincere, and conscientious obedience to the will of God, is mor pleasing and acceptable to him than all burnt-offering and sacrifices God is more glorified and self more denied, by obedience than by sacrifice. It is much easier to bring a bullock or lamb to be burne upon the altar, than to bring every high thought into obedience to God and to make our will subject to his will. Those are unfit and unworth to rule over men, who are not willing that God should rule over them.
Original Hebrew
כי 3588 חטאת 2403 קסם 7081 מרי 4805 ואון 205 ותרפים 8655 הפצר 6484 יען 3282 מאסת 3988 את 853 דבר 1697 יהוה 3068 וימאסך 3988 ממלך׃ 4428
