Question

How did Saul disobey Samuel's instructions?

Answer 1

Saul disobeyed Samuel's instructions in several ways:

1. Offering sacrifices without waiting for Samuel: In one instance, Samuel instructed Saul to wait for him to arrive in Gilgal and offer sacrifices to God. However, Saul grew impatient and offered the sacrifices himself before Samuel's arrival. This act disregarded Samuel's authority and violated the specific instructions given to him.

2. Failing to completely destroy the Amalekites: God commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekite nation, including men, women, children, and animals. However, Saul spared King Agag and the best of the livestock, going against God's explicit instructions. Samuel confronted Saul for this disobedience, as sparing the Amalekites went against God's will.

3. Building a monument for himself: After a victory against the Amalekites, Saul built a monument in his own honor. This action showed a lack of humility and a desire for personal glory, which was contrary to the principles of kingship and submission to God's authority.

Overall, Saul's disobedience to Samuel's instructions included taking matters into his own hands by offering sacrifices, failing to carry out God's command to completely destroy the Amalekites, and seeking personal glory through the construction of a monument. These actions revealed Saul's disregard for God's authority and his failure to fulfill his responsibilities as king.

Answer 2

Saul disobeyed Samuel's instructions by sparing the Amalekite king Agag and the best livestock instead of destroying everything as God commanded. This disobedience resulted in God rejecting Saul as king, signifying the gravity of obeying divine commands in the narrative of the Israelite monarchy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Saul disobeyed Samuel by not completely following the commandment to destroy the Amalekites and all they had, sparing their king Agag and the best of the livestock, which went against God's directive given through Samuel. This act of disobedience cost Saul his kingdom, as God then chose David to be the next king of Israel.

According to the biblical narrative in 1 Samuel 15, God commanded Saul through the prophet Samuel to destroy the Amalekites completely as punishment for opposing the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. However, Saul spared the life of King Agag and the best of the livestock, intending to sacrifice them to the Lord. This partial obedience was seen as rebellion and rejection of God's command. Samuel confronted Saul about his disobedience, and as a consequence, the Lord rejected Saul as king, leading to the rise of David, who would become one of Israel's greatest kings.

The story illustrates the importance of complete obedience to God's commands and serves as a lesson on the consequences of disobedience in the context of the Israelite monarchy.

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